Main Sector of relevance\IRC classification 3. Biological Sciences

3.10 Technology of diamond-like carbonaceous coating preparation

Developers’ contact information

Scientific and Engineering Center &ldqup;Plasmoteg&rdqup; of the Physical-Engineering Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
1/3 Academician V.F.Kuprevich Street, Minsk BY-220141

Summary

The technology of diamond-like carbonaceous coating preparation is destined for:

• Improvement of machinery parts and mechanisms durability;
• Increase in geometrical dimensions control facilities durability;
• Protection of casting-forms and stamp working areas used for manufacturing of plastic products;
• Reconstruction of working area sizes of worn high-precision friction couples.
• Improvement in biocompatibility of transplant used in traumatology and orthopedics as well as in cardiosurgery.

Description

The technology of diamond-like carbonaceous coating preparation consists in the use of the pulse method of cathodal-arc discharge in vacuum and condensation of carbon plasm jets. This technology is also based on the use of carbonic plasm impulse generators with graphite electrodes. High energies and plasma ionization rate provide good attachment of the coating to casting-form materials. Such coatings have unique mechanical, chemical and thermal characteristics.
A low friction coefficient and a high-wearing feature combination make it possible to multiply advance the durability of high-precision friction couple of machine parts and mechanisms. The diamond-like carbonaceous coatings make it possible to improve casting-form producing characteristics, and so to discount flawed items percentage, to increase foundry equipment endurance as well as to replace expensive, energy-intensive and environmentally harmful electrochemical processes that are traditionally used upon application of chromium coatings for casting-form protection.
Metal transplants with diamond-like coating show high biocompatibility. They do not cause blood coagulation in contrast to other coatings, serve as effective barriers that prevent metal ionic diffusion, and may be effectively used for transplant coatings contacting with bony and soft body tissues.

Main performance characteristics of the diamond-like carbon films sedimentation process:

average consumed power	25 кW/h
upper limit size of sprayed article	200×200×300 mm3
average revenue load per process	6÷50 pieces.
one process cost value	60÷100 n.u.
process duration	1,5÷3,5 h.
sedimentation temperature	30÷90 °C

Basic specifications of diamond-like carbonaceous coatings:

gauge	0,05÷5,0 μm
microhardness	30÷85 GPa
thermal fastness	350÷400 °C

Technology type

• Other:
  Vacuum deposition process of diamond-like carbon material.

Technical advantages and economic benefits

Product life increase by 1.5–5 times.

Technology differentiation and uniqueness

—

Context in which technology was identified

Russia, Poland, Germany, China, Korea, Taiwan, etc.

Technological keywords

Diamond-like carbon, abrasive resistance, hardness, biocompatible coating.

Development Stage

• Other:
  Experiment-industrial engineering.

Intellectual property rights

• Patent pending
• Specific Patent Information:
  Patent of invention of RB No. 9794, No. 5013, useful model No. 984.

Range of applications

Machine industry, toolmaking industry, medicine.

Classifier Used at the EU Innovation Relay Centres

• Biological Sciences
• Industrial Manufacturing, Material and Transport Technologies

Preferable Regions

• North America
• Europe
• Asia

Practical experience

The technological process has been mastered for production of diamond-like carbonaceous coatings for articles of a number of enterprises in the Republic of Belarus, Germany and Latvia; advanced technologies for enterprises in China and Taiwan.

Environmental impact

None.

Type of collaboration sought

• Other:
  Joint ventures and production, license agreements, coating application services.

Terms and restrictions

No right of exploitation to a third person.

Available technical assistance

• Other:
  Process equipment manufacturing and delivery, equipment commissioning.
  Technical support, equipment commissioning, personnel training.