Metallization Alkali-Free Glass: Alkali-Free Glass (CTE 3.2 x 10^-6 /K, 350 nm – 2.0 um); films 50 nm – 2 um, patterned to 10 um lines. Single-piece prototypes to production volumes, quoted from your drawing.
The point of metallization alkali-free glass is simple: solderable pads, mirrors and electrodes on glass. We deposit it by sputter + lift-off or shadow mask onto Alkali-Free Glass and verify films 50 nm – 2 um, patterned to 10 um lines on every lot.
Key parameters
| Material | Alkali-Free Glass (AF32 / EAGLE-class display glass) |
|---|---|
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 3.2 x 10^-6 /K |
| Service temperature | 600 C (Tg 717 C) |
| Transmission range | 350 nm – 2.0 um |
| Density | 2.43 g/cm3 |
| Knoop hardness | 590 kg/mm2 |
| Refractive index | 1.51 @ 587 nm |
| Stock thickness | 0.10 – 1.1 mm |
| Maximum blank size | 400 x 300 mm |
| Treatment | Metallization – Cr/Au, Ti/Pt or Al thin films |
| Specification | films 50 nm – 2 um, patterned to 10 um lines |
| Deposition / method | sputter + lift-off or shadow mask |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
Design guidance
Before sending the RFQ, check these against your drawing:
- Material note: thin sheets below 0.3 mm demand carrier-supported handling through every step.
- Sequence matters: all machining happens before metallization; post-coating rework is not economical.
- Over-specification is the quiet budget killer: a 20/10 scratch-dig face costs roughly three times an 80/50 face, so grade each surface individually.
The full rules live in our tolerance design guide and holes and edges design guide.
Process window
Beyond this page, Alkali-Free Glass routinely runs through cnc machining, etching, polishing, dicing in our shop – most real parts combine two or three of these steps.
Typical applications
metallization alkali-free glass shows up across oled packaging (cover lids, frit-seal frames, fill-port plates); ccd inspection equipment (CCD cover plates, reference grids, stage glass); industrial displays (touch covers, gauge windows, printed bezels). Background reading on the underlying material science: SCHOTT AF 32 eco.
The fastest route to a quote is geometry: use the 3D builder below, draw a dimensioned 2D drawing from it, or open the site-wide custom glass machining 3D + 2D builder for fully custom parts.
Engineers scoping this work usually also review alkali-free display glass, alkali-free glass wafers, laser glass cutting.
Frequently asked questions
How does Alkali-Free Glass behave under heat?
CTE is 3.2 x 10^-6 /K and continuous service reaches 600 C (Tg 717 C), which is what drives its use where no alkali ion migration into TFT or sensor layers matters.
What does metallization add?
Solderable pads, mirrors and electrodes on glass. Applied by sputter + lift-off or shadow mask to films 50 nm – 2 um, patterned to 10 um lines.
Is there a minimum order for metallization alkali-free glass?
No. Single prototypes are accepted, and pricing steps down at 10, 100 and 1,000 pieces.
How fast can prototypes ship?
Machined prototypes ship in 5 – 10 working days. Coated or bonded parts add 1 – 2 weeks depending on queue slots.
What files do you need for a quote?
A dimensioned PDF plus DXF or STEP geometry. If only a sketch exists, our drawing review service formalizes it before quoting.
Specifications on this page were last reviewed by our engineering team in August 2026.