Surfaces need to have good anti-adhesion properties in order to avoid deposits, contaminants, and adhesions or to meet demands for drop formation. In addition to low surface energy, the tools or components must also exhibit excellent wear resistance because of the heavy mechanical loads placed upon them. Hard coatings can possess not only high hardness but also anti-adhesion properties. Coatings consisting of modified diamond-like carbon (DLC), e. g. SICON® and also chromium nitride layers (CrN), are excellent examples for such a combination of properties.
Our Offer
- Definded adjustment of surface energy or wetting behavior of coatings (adhesion and anti-adhesion layers)
- Combination of wetting properties with high wear resistance
- Combination of structured surfaces with pronounced anti-adhesion properties (Lotus effect)
- Matching layer properties to customer-specific requirements
- Process development, wear analysis and consulting
Properties and advtanges
The wetting behavior can be varied in a defined way by modifying the DLC coatings with nonmetallic elements. The elements fluorine and silicon significantly reduce surface energy and thus wettability (e. g. F‑DLC, SICON®, SICAN). Nitrogen, boron and oxygen cause the opposite effect, i. e. the surfaces could be wetted easily (e. g. N-DLC, B-DLC). DLC coatings modified with silicon and oxygen have good anti-adhesion properties similar to Teflon®, but a significantly higher wear resistance and temperature stability. Chromium-based layer systems (CrN and variations) also show favorable anti-adhesion as well as good mechanical and tribological properties. By variations of the deposition process parameters it is possible to adjust layer composition, structure and property profile to customer-specific requirements.