Sputtering Targets and Sputtered Films: Technology and Markets

According to a new technical market research report, Sputtering Targets and Sputtered Films: Technology and Markets (SMC037D) from BCC Research, the global market for sputtered films and sputtering targets was worth $2.8 billion in 2007. This is expected to increase to $5.9 billion by 2012, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.8%.

Nearly 1.3 million sputtering targets were consumed in 2007. This is expected to increase to more than 1.5 million targets in 2012, for a CAGR of 3.6%. In 2007 this amounted to 1,217.7 million square meters of thin films for semiconductors, passive components, recording heads, flat panel displays, data storage media, wear and corrosion resistant coatings, lubricant films, photovoltaic cells, automotive and architectural glass, biological coatings, and other applications. This is expected to increase to 1,980.2 million square meters by the end of 2012, for a CAGR of 10.2%.

The microelectronics sector historically has been the largest consumer of sputtering targets, but this will change by 2012. In the semiconductor industry, the ongoing transition to copper wiring, which uses electroplating as the major thin film deposition method, and the introduction of alternative manufacturing technologies to meet the miniaturization requirements established by the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors, will lead to reduced use of the sputtering process during the next 5 years.

Nevertheless, sales of sputtering targets are expected to grow at a very healthy rate, driven by the utilization of these products in the fabrication process of other fast growing applications, such as advanced displays and solar cells. Other factors that will positively affect the expansion of the sputtering target market include the availability of new target compositions for emerging applications, the availability of raw materials and process equipment, and the increasing market penetration of the sputtering process in developing countries.