Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films ISTThe precipitation of polycrystalline diamond films using hot-filament chemical vapour deposition (CVD, HFCVD) is a core competence of the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST. Fully automated HFCVD systems developed at Fraunhofer IST are suitable for coating surfaces up to half a square metre. Processes and systems are also available for the diamond coating of three-dimensional base bodies and for interior diamond coating. Diamond layers with various modifications, for instance with a rough or smooth surface or also as electrically conductive films, are available for different applications. We offer our customers and partners the following services:
Development of substrate or base body
- Design and material selection according to coating requirements
- Support for procurement of base bodies
Film development
- Development of new, application-oriented coating systems
- Combination with additional PVD or CVD thin films as interlayer or toplayer
Process development
- Adaption to base body geometry (3D as well as inside geometry) and up-scaling
- Economical optimization by increasing batch volume and / or high-rate processes
- Prototypes and small batches for application tests
- Simulation for process optimization (e. g. film thickness homogeneity, substrate position, reactor concept)
Analytics and quality assurance
- Measurement of chemical and physical film properties
- Spatially-resolved measurement of film thickness distribution and coating adhesion
- Application-specific characterization methods, also in cooperation with partners
Technology transfer
- Development of customized coating solutions
- Process transfer to clients or to coating enterprises
- Design of hot-filament CVD components (e. g. filament holders, substrate cooling)
- Support for design, procurement and implementation of hot-filament CVD reactors
- Support for implementation of processes for substrate pretreatment, e. g. finishing, cleaning, seeding
- Literature, patent and market research, studies, trainings