Integrating Data Analytics and Computation Programming for Enhanced Material Design in High Performance Thin-Film Optical Coatings

Optical thin films have been applied to different substrates to impart specific optical, physical, and chemical properties for military, avionic and medical applications. High performance optical thin films identify variables, like baseline spectra range behavior, reflectance, transmission, or film thickness to create the end use film on a specific substrate. Deposition parameters are often optimized incrementally, resulting in current failure rates identification of the need for a rational design mechanism.The aim of this project is to identify correlations and/or causations between collected technical information and computer programable predictive modelling of chemical, physical, and optical properties associated with the film and substrate, ultimately improving the pass rate and therefore increasing production quality and capacity in the manufacturing facility. The development of this methodology will provide a unique process to identify technical information and incorporate programing/modelling to inform development of highly specialized thin films for end use in military, avionic, and medical applications. Upon method creation, films will be developed more efficiently, decreasing cost, time, and resources in comparison to the current film creation process. Additionally, correlation and causation relationships identify the underlying physical or chemical interactions at the molecular level which control the bulk film properties. Ultimately, this project identifies not only a material specific process and improvement for one material in the manufacturing facility, but it identifies a statistical method to enhance manufacturer’s capabilities of meeting highly specialized end-use products for their customers.