Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coatings consist of carbon atoms connected by diamond-and graphite-like bonds. Such amorphous coatings can be deposited in a wide temperature range, up to room temperature, onto different workmaterials: metals, ceramic, glass, plastic.

A high proportion of carbons with diamond-like bonds, along with the presence of graphite-likebonds, brings about unique characteristics of diamond-like coatings, such as:

• High hardness
• Low friction coefficient
• High wear resistance
• Chemical resistance
• Biocompatibility
• Transparency in infra-red band of a spectrum
• Ecological cleanness

These properties of films are exactly what is needed in many branches of our industry, metal working industry in particular, for cutting tools with DLC coatings on taps, milling tools, drills, guillotine-­shears, on press moulds and punches. A product life cycle increases by a factor from 5 to 20. The maximum effect is achieved while processing copper, aluminum, titanium alloys, fiber-glass plastics and also critical parts of machines and mechanisms whichwork under the conditions of high dragging and runout, movable parts and groups, bearing parts, guidepaths, catch members, assembly lines, hydraulic cylinders, plungers, movable rotating parts and groups, bearing parts.

Physical Mechanical Properties of Carbonaceous Coatings

The method of an evacuated pulse mineral carbon atomization, which we use, as opposed to othermethods of obtaining the DLC coatings, has some advantages important for mass production:ecological cleanness, rigid adherence of films with a base coat, high hardness of coatings which is compared to diamond hardness, perfect wear resistance. Below youcan see a scheme of a machine to apply DLC coatings.

This machine has an applying zone of 50cm (diameter) and 60cm (height). It consists of 4 carbon, 2 arc and 4 gas ion sources.

Microhardness of Diamond-Like Carbon Coating