DLC breakthrough for bores from Tecvac
New InnerArmorTM process coats internal surfaces of pipes, pumps and interior bores with DLC up to 50 microns.
Tecvac is now offering a revolutionary enhanced plasma coating process that allows cylinders, pipes, internal bores and enclosures up to 3 metres in length to be internally coated with diamond-like carbon (DLC). Developed by Sub-One Technology, the InnerArmorTM process provides a corrosion-resistant, very hard film, up to 50 microns thick. Coatings are inert, biocompatible, and environmentally friendly, and can reduce friction losses to very low levels.Tecvac has already identified bore coating applications in aerospace, fluid engineering, medical devices and powder processing. Tecvac expects to find many other internal applications where effective DLC coating has previously proved difficult or impossible to apply.
'Glass-like' defect-free structure
The InnerArmorTM process creates DLC surfaces with a 'glass-like' amorphous (non-crystalline) structure, free from pinhole defects, even in tube lengths of 3 metres at aspect ratios of 1:45. This provides internal bores and tubes with very high levels of protection from erosion, scaling and fouling, and prevents adhesion by powders, particulates and slurries.
Operating temperatures to 450oC
InnerArmorTM DLC coatings can be conducting or insulating, and can withstand high loads at operating temperatures of 450oC.
Application temperatures below 200oC
Coating application temperatures for a variety of DLC formulations are below 200oC. This enables many hollow engine parts to be coated with DLC, and allows the replacement of expensive high performance materials with lower specification steels.
Superlative corrosion resistance
Tests with the new InnerArmorTM DLC process demonstrated superlative corrosion resistance and wear performance with consistent film hardnesses of 3000 HV. High performance was shown in salt spray tests to meet US standards. Very high wear resistance in these tests was indicated by a very low attrition rate of less than 0.0005 microns per hour. Tecvac can coat internal bores to thicknesses of between 5 and 50 microns to meet the highest specifications.
Superior bore performance
The InnerArmorTM process provides superior film bonding compared with other deposition methods. It offers all interior bore coating applications a high performance, clean, environmentally friendly process to give the highest levels of corrosion protection, wear resistance, and energy efficiency.
Contact John Rushforth at Tecvac Ltd on +44 (0) 1954 233700 for more technical or sales information.Tecvac Ltd, Buckingway Business Park, Swavesey, Cambridge CB24 5UG.
Tel +44(0)1954 233700 Fax +44 (0)1954233733
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