Low friction high hardness coatings for toolmakers

Cavidur is a special type of amorphous carbon based DLC coating and is usually between 2 and 4um thick, deposited using plasma assisted chemical vapour deposition at temperatures below 200ºC.

Gloucestershire based Kronos Engineering Solutions .

has had considerable success supplying its Cavidur coatings into the UK motorsport sector, where it is used in extremely demanding situations including finger followers and cams where lubrication films can break down.

The company is now offering the same service to other industries to help them improve the performance and durability of their products.

Cavidur is a special type of amorphous carbon based DLC (Diamond-like carbon) coating and is usually between 2 and 4?m thick, deposited using plasma assisted chemical vapour deposition at temperatures below 200ºC.

A wide variety of substrates are suitable for the process, making it possible to apply the technology to soft materials to improve their wear properties.

The characteristics of DLC coatings are high hardness, comparable to and exceeding the hardness of TiN coatings, a very low coefficient of friction, and high wear resistance through self lubricating properties.

The coefficient of friction of DLC type coatings is in the region of 0.1.

Compared with TiN coatings, which have a coefficient of friction of around 0.3, and steel with a value of 0.7, DLC offers toolmakers some huge advantages.

It resists damage from aggressive plastics, eases demoulding, and smoothes the operation of moving parts including ejectors and slides in the tool.

Similarly, the wear resistance and surface hardness offered by DLC will improve the useful life of the tool, especially where a soft substrate has been used.

Utilising this technology will help toolmakers to offer their customers increased tool life and more reliable performance.

Additionally, cost savings in manufacture can be gained through eliminating the need to machine the tool in its hardened state.

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