Durable Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) Coatings
VaporTech VT Diamond™ coatings are diamond-like thin-film coatings applied either through a physical or chemical vapor deposition process. These coatings are often referred to as DLC coatings, but they can be customized in significant ways to maximize durability, reduce friction, or improve appearance. All VaporTech PVD coating equipment can be configured to apply both metal-based PVD finishes as well as diamond-like carbon coatings. Common VT Diamond applications include machine tooling, engine components, aviation, cutting tools, medical devices, watches, and other high-value consumer products.
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Faster DLC coating process, harder surfaces
VT Diamond coatings feature low friction, excellent wear resistance, and a dark gray to near-black color. The unique VaporTech plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition DLC process can coat complex geometries.
Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PE-CVD) available in all VaporTech® Systems creates our popular VT- DLC (or a-C:H). In the VT-Series coaters bond this coating using a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) metal adhesion layer of Zirconium (Zr), Titanium (Ti) or Chromium (Cr). Alternately, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor Deposition (PE-CVD) process creates the bonding layer with a silicon-based precursors in both the VT-Series and Cadence systems. DLC coatings combines low friction and high hardness for applications requiring easy release or low sliding wear like engine components, medical devices, dies, molds and firearms. Moreover, these DLC coatings have a rich, neutral, black color that enhances product appearance and value.
Table of coating properties:
| Color Range (CIELAB, D65) | L* = 45 – 50, a* = -1.0 – +1.0, b* = -1 – +1.0 |
| Coating Hardness | 15 – 23 GPa (1500 – 2300 Hv) |
| Thickness Range | 1.0 – 10.0 µm |
| Deposition Rate | 1-3 µm/hr |
| Coefficient of Friction (COF) | 0.08 – 0.11 (dry; against alumina) |
| Wear Rate (Pin-on-Disk) | 1.8×10-7 (mm3/N-m) |
DLC facts
Functional coatings
Decorative coatings
DID YOU KNOW?
DLC film friction coefficient against
polished steel ranges from
0.05
to
