What is a Molybdenum Thermal Boat?

A molybdenum thermal boat, also known as a moly boat or Mo boat (its symbol on the periodic table), is a specialized type of boat-shaped container made from molybdenum sheet metal. It is commonly used in high-temperature applications, particularly in the field of materials science, chemistry and research laboratories.

Although thermal boats can be made from different materials, molybdenum is an economical and versatile choice. For these purposes, it has become a preferred choice for use in various types of fabrication and research.

See also: tantalum thermal boat and tungsten thermal boat.

1. Design and Purpose

A thermal boat’s design typically consists of a trough-like structure with raised edges that resemble a simple boat. Molybdenum, a refractory metal with excellent high-temperature properties, is one of the materials of choice for constructing these boats due to having well-rounded characteristics like high melting point, good thermal conductivity and resistance to chemical attack at elevated temperatures.

The main purpose of a molybdenum thermal boat is to hold and transport materials during high-temperature processes, such as thermal evaporation, sintering, and furnace applications. These boats are loaded with solid materials which need to be heated to high temperatures to facilitate vaporization.

2. Common Applications

In general, molybdenum is favored in high-temperature applications due to its ability to withstand extreme conditions without deforming or reacting with the materials it holds. Some specific use cases include the following:

2.1. Thin Film Deposition

• In physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes, molybdenum thermal boats are used to hold the evaporant material (e.g., metal, alloy or other material) that is heated to produce a vapor. This vapor then condenses on a substrate, forming a thin film.

2.2. High-Temperature Reactions

• Molybdenum heating elements are employed in high-temperature reactions where precise control of temperature and containment of reactants are essential.

2.3. Crystal Growth

• Molybdenum crucible boats can be utilized as containers for melting and crystallizing materials during crystal growth processes, particularly in research and production of single crystals.

2.4. Materials Testing

• These boats are used in laboratories, paired with various material characterization and analysis techniques, and are used alongside thermal analysis, high-temperature microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis.

Molybdenum thermal boats come in different sizes, thicknesses and configurations to accommodate specific applications and equipment requirements. Due to their high temperature tolerance, these boats are known for their durability under repeated deposition cycles for research and industry applications.

Sourcing Molybdenum Thermal Boats

R.D. Mathis Company manufactures molybdenum thermal boats designed for high-temperature thin-film deposition applications. Fabricated from high-purity molybdenum, these boats exhibit high thermal conductivity and strong resistance to chemical interaction at elevated operating temperatures.

All of our evaporation boats are available in a variety of materials and thicknesses to meet a wide range of requirements — visit the R.D. Mathis website to see product specifications.