Core technology
Integrating seven core technologies to create unique high-purity materials.
Kojundo Chemical Laboratory’s manufacturing operations are underpinned by seven core technologies: melting, sintering, synthesis, distillation/purification, machining, bonding, and analysis/evaluation. Our strength lies not only in mastering these individual specialized technologies but also in flexibly combining them to create high-purity materials that would be impossible to produce using any single technique alone. With an integrated in-house system covering everything from raw material procurement to synthesis, processing, and analysis—a rarity in Japan—we ensure consistent quality and provide robust technical support for our customers' success in both research and development and mass production.
Melting
Core Technology 01
Flexibly utilizing diverse melting methods to select the optimal process
We have multiple melting methods in-house, including vacuum melting furnaces, arc melting furnaces, and plasma melting furnaces—a rarity even in the industry. Our strength lies in our ability to melt metals and alloys with melting points up to 1700°C in vacuum or inert gas atmospheres, and select the optimal process according to material properties. With uniform stirring technology using electromagnetic induction heating and an integrated system that guarantees the same quality from prototypes of a few grams to mass production of 50kg, we accelerate our customers' development speed.
Main equipment
Small-scale vacuum melting furnaces, large-scale vacuum melting furnaces, arc melting furnaces, plasma melting furnaces, CZ melting furnaces, atmospheric melting furnaces, etc.
Sintering
Core Technology 02
Proprietary composite sintering technology that accommodates special compounds
Not only do we have a variety of sintering equipment such as HIP, SPS, and vacuum hot press, but by integrating with our in-house melting and synthesis technologies, we achieve sintering of special compounds that are difficult to handle through typical contract processing. We provide integrated support from raw material synthesis to sintering for materials such as nitrides and complex oxides that are not available as commercial raw materials. We provide stable supply of high-density, high-quality sputtering targets and tablets from prototyping to mass production.
Main equipment
Vacuum hot presses, hot presses, spark plasma sintering systems, atmospheric firing furnaces, atmospheric pressure sintering furnaces, spray dryers, cold isostatic presses (CIP), mold forming equipment, etc.
Synthesis
Core Technology 03
Proprietary synthesis know-how for stable handling of highly reactive substances
With specialized expertise in inorganic and organic synthesis cultivated over many years, we can stably handle highly reactive substances that easily react with moisture and oxygen in the atmosphere. Our precision control technology in vacuum gloveboxes and inert gas atmospheres is particularly demonstrated in the synthesis of difficult-to-handle organometallic complexes such as metal alkoxides and metal amides. We custom synthesize high-purity, high-quality compounds that cannot be obtained from standard products, tailored to your specifications.
Main equipment
Tube furnaces, Siliconit electric furnaces, atmosphere furnaces, lab-scale rotary furnaces, vacuum glove boxes, etc.
Purification by Distillation
Core Technology 04
Precision distillation technology achieving ppb-level purity control
With precision distillation facilities operable under inert gas and vacuum atmospheres, we also handle purification of air-sensitive metal complexes. By integrating with inline automatic filling equipment in a clean room, we minimize contact with outside air from purification to filling, reducing the risk of impurity contamination. We provide high-purity and stable quality products from gram-scale development items to ton-scale mass production.
Main equipment
Stainless steel distillation equipment, glass sublimation apparatus, glass distillation apparatus, automatic filling equipment, etc.
Machining
Core Technology 05
Processing into optimal shapes by engineers with thorough knowledge of material properties
Engineers with deep understanding of the properties of the wide variety of materials we produce daily perform precision machining tailored to your equipment and applications. Leveraging our unique knowledge as a materials manufacturer—such as "this material will crack if processed this way" or "surface quality can be maintained under these conditions"—we propose optimal processing conditions that cannot be obtained through outsourcing. The convenience of entrusting both material manufacturing and processing as an integrated service, from metals to ceramics, is also our strength.
Main equipment
Rotary grinding machines, surface grinding machines, cylindrical grinding machines, wire-cut EDM machines, various cutting machines, lathes, milling machines, rolling mills, stamp mills, Braun mills, ball mills, gas atomization equipment, planetary ball mills, wet bead mills, fluidized bed granulator-dryers, etc.
Bonding
Core Technology 06
Highly reliable bonding technology considering material properties
To support the stable performance of sputtering targets, we select appropriate bonding conditions considering the thermal expansion coefficient and mechanical properties of each material. By consistently performing everything from target material manufacturing to bonding, we enable bonding that takes material properties into account. We verify the bonding condition of every piece, leading to reduced risk of trouble during use and stable performance.
Main equipment
Bonding equipment, ultrasonic flaw detection equipment, X-ray inspection equipment, etc.
Analysis & Evaluation
Core Technology 07
Thorough high-precision analysis ensuring product reliability
This is the analysis and evaluation process that is essential for quality assurance and new material development. In a dedicated building equipped with Class 1000 clean rooms and Class 100 clean drafts, we eliminate environmental impurities and conduct highly sensitive trace element analysis at ppb to ppt levels using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) and ICP-OES. Furthermore, by utilizing various thermal analysis instruments to precisely evaluate physical and chemical changes in materials, we substantiate the validity of product development and stable quality.
Main equipment
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES), Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, Oxygen/Nitrogen Analyzer, Carbon/Sulfur Analyzer, X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometer (EDS), Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometer (WDS), Particle Size Distribution Analyzer, Specific Surface Area Analyzer (BET), etc.