Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) is a metastable form of amorphous carbon withsignificant sp3 bonding. DLC coatings are of interest in a wide variety ofapplications to provide low friction and high hardness and wear resistance.
Applications
- Glass: anti-scratch.- Molds: prevent plastic transfer- Engine parts: low friction (a-C).- Space parts: low friction (a-C:H).- Cutting tools: lubricated and dry
conditions.- Oil & gas: super lubricity in pipes.- ….
A. Voevodin, Surf. Coat. Technol. 82 (1996) 199–213.
J. Robertson, Surf. Coat. Technol. 50 (1992) 185–203.
Ion assistance required ~ 100eV
Anode to extend the plasma
Magnetically linked magnetrons
Prof. Wolf-Dieter Munz Galvanotechn.4 (2016) 774
Bias required
Glass?Plastics?
55GPa Micro hardess, comparable to filtered arc
Prof. Wolf-Dieter Munz Galvanotechn.4 (2016) 774
• High level of electron bombardment
• Bias requirements
• Low deposition rates
• Very narrow process window
SOLUTION?
2
V
4
3
5
8b
6
1b10ab
92b
8c
Proprietary technology: Patent application number GB1605162.5 (March 2016)
Ion acceleration period (V+)
Plasma excitation period (V-)
- Positive ion bombardment- No electron bombardment- Reduced thermal load?
Proprietary technology: Patent application number GB1605162.5 (March 2016)
Ion acceleration period (V+)
Plasma excitation period (V-)
Proprietary technology: Patent application number GB1605162.5 (March 2016)
3 energy regimes are measured
Magnetron size 400x100mm2 (industrially relevant) – WC, Graphite targetsOptimized magnetic field configuration to enhance positive ion assisted deposition
Proprietary technology: Patent application number GB1605162.5 (March 2016)
Sample position
Proprietary technology: Patent application number GB1605162.5 (March 2016)
Magnetron size 400x100mm2 (industrially relevant) – WC, Graphite targetsOptimized magnetic field configuration to enhance positive ion assisted deposition
No charge build-up in sharped edges
Biased process: high DLC coating stress N4E process: low DLC coating stress
+485V
Current to floating potential (10mV/A)
8006004002000
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
X[nm]
Z[n
m]
8006004002000
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
X[nm]
Z[n
m]
Untreated glass substrate
Oxygen treated glass substrate
RMS roughness: 2.6 nm
RMS roughness: 1.4 nm
DLC Coating description Total light transmission Taber test result
15 min O2 plasma cleaning + 60 sec DLC (aprox. 6nm) 89.2 ≤20 times NG
30 min O2 plasma cleaning + 30 sec DLC (aprox. 3nm) 89 ≤20 times NG
5 min O2 plasma cleaning + 30 sec DLC (aprox. 3nm) 91.2 ≤10 times NG
DLC coated
Uncoated
Tape to hold broken glass together
DLC coated
Uncoated
500mN critical load – 5 micron tip radius
Film thickness 10nm
Hysitron TI950 TriboindenterBerkovich tip indenter BKL4
Hardness = 32 GPa
Young modulus = 220 GPa
500nm thick DLC
Si substrate
SEM cross section
of WC/DLC coating
Bias required
15GPa Microhardess with -75V Bias!
Prof. Wolf-Dieter Munz Galvanotechn.4 (2016) 774
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Thank you for your attention!
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