Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine November/December 2021 - 26

INDUSTRIAL FINISHING: ANTI-REFLECTIVE COATINGS
Shades Required
Anti-reflective coatings on eyewear and
other products, have a bright future
T
he performance of anti-reflective coatings, which
absorb light and prolong the function of glass and
other materials on which they are applied, is dazzling.
The coatings have proven effective when used on
glass in different applications such as electronics, solar panels
and automobiles but innovations are also being developed to
apply coatings to different materials to enhance their efficiency
as well. Acting as a barrier between light and the surface of a lens,
the coatings vary depending upon application.
The global anti-reflective coatings market was valued at
$2,818 million in 2015 and is expected to rise to $4,858 million
by 2022, registering a very healthy compound annual growth rate
(CAGR) of 8.2 percent during the forecast period, says a report by
Allied Market Research (AMR).
The anti-reflective coatings are applied on optical surfaces
as an envelope which can control the transmission of light and
reduce reflection.
Anti-reflective coatings are dielectric coatings designed to
decrease reflection and increase transmittance through a lens
or any other optical surface. These coatings can control both
transmission and reflection properties with respect to UV
rays, visible light, and near-IR spectral bands. Antireflective
coatings find applications in multiple industries such as eyewear,
electronics, solar panels, automobile, and others.
The global market is segmented based on technology,
geography and application.
TECHNOLOGY
The market is categorized into vacuum deposition, electronic
beam evaporation, sputtering, and others (such as ion assisted
deposition).
26
www.cfcm.ca
Vacuum deposition and electronic beam evaporation account
for the majority of the total global anti-reflective coatings market,
researchers say.
Vacuum deposition technology uses different processes which
deposit layers of required material on an optical surface. Vacuum
deposition techniques are mostly used for the application of antireflective
coatings because of a low environmental impact and
maximum versatility. In this technique, the materials to be coated
are introduced in a chamber which is evacuated until it reaches
specific pressure. This method of antireflective coating is one
of the most highly developed technologies for anti-reflective
coatings and is used for thin film deposition, making the cost
of application low. Even high-priced materials can be coated
through thin film deposition without having a drastic effect on
the cost of the product.
From a growth perspective, sputtering and electronic beam
evaporation have high growth potential.
MARKET SEGMENTS
By Application
* Eyewear
* Electronics
* Solar Panels
* Automobile
* Others
By Technology
* Vacuum Deposition
* Electronic Beam
Evaporation
* Sputtering
* Others
http://www.cfcm.ca
Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine November/December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine November/December 2021
