Technology

We use PVD sputtering, magnetron sputtering to apply coatings. Sputtering works on the principle of dedusting individual coating atoms by bombarding accelerated argon ions and krypton under high vacuum. The degraded atoms then impinge on the surface of the material, where they form new material together with the reaction gas. Because the material is almost atom-atom-bound, it is very homogeneous and without major crystalline defects.

We prepare the coatings on the CemeCon 880 MLT with a pulse source, which allows us to deposit both ordinary layers and oxides even on difficult-to-coat materials. It is possible to deposit coatings at low temperatures (150 ° C) so that the base material (e.g., aluminum, tool steel) is not damaged. The CemeCon MLT is specially designed for coating machine parts, dies, molds and tools, where low-friction surfaces and a very smooth structure are needed.

1) Coating of molds and dies

Our mold and die coatings, unlike other PVD processes, feature a very smooth surface without droplets (arched steaming) and coarse columnar structures (DC magnetron sputtering). Thanks to this, it is possible to achieve a surface that delivers reliable performance and optimum efficiency.

Coating of molding tools extends their service life and reduces production costs. The correct coating prevents abrasive wear (for example, glass fiber composites), adhesion and sticking in complicated shapes and deformation problems.

2) Tribological coatings - DLC, WS2, WSC / WSN

Tribological coatings are used wherever the friction coefficient is to be reduced, to avoid cold welds and to provide good sliding properties.

Tribological coatings are formed by the conversion of several top atomic layers of material. A typical example is DLC coatings. DLC coated coatings are carbon in a diamond and graphical configuration (roughly 50:50), where the diamond configuration provides high hardness and low friction graphics. Due to pressure, diamond bonds in frictional contact convert to graphical, and resulting 2D grain flakes provide low friction and thus low wear.

On the same principle also work our unique WSC / WSN coatings based on transition metal dichalcogenides.

3) Coating of non-conducting substrates

Thanks to the special technology developed by AdvaMat s.r.o., non-conductive materials can also be coated with high-quality coatings with perfect adhesion.

Coating of cutting ceramics (Si3N4, Al2O3 or whisker ceramics) greatly increases machining efficiency.

The coating reduces friction and seals the porous surface - increases heat dissipation with chip and reduces thermal stress on the tool.
The coating protects the ceramic against thermal shocks in an interrupted cut where thermal stress is one of the most common causes of cutting edge.

With our coating, we can cut up to 50% faster cutting speed with the same service life (e.g., Si3N4 substrate, AdvaMat AlTiN coating, vc = 180 m / min, material: Inconel 718) .

4) Coating at low temperatures

We perform the application of hard nitride and metal layers at low temperatures,

Coating cutting tool steel, nitrided steel, aluminum alloys and other heat-resistant materials to avoid damage to the carrier material. At low temperatures we mainly apply CrN, TiN, TiAlN, (CrAl) 203 and DLC coatings, and other materials can be consulted.

We are also able to coat plastics and prints from 3D printers (PLA, ABS, and others). In these materials, the coating mainly has aesthetic properties or increases the electrical conductivity of the material.

5) Optimizing your coatings

AdvaMat s.r.o. Focuses primarily on the development and optimization of coatings so that the coatings are applied precisely to the customer's needs. Our goal is to optimize coatings in the shortest possible time horizon and at low cost. This is thanks to the experience of previous tests as well as extensive measurement equipment. In addition to the usual mechanical properties of the coatings, we can measure and adjust the internal stress of the coating, measure the friction of the coating against any materials (according to ISO and ANSI standards) and accurately measure surface roughness and geometry (for example, after rectifying blades or polishing etc.).

The coatings can be optimized for adhesion to other materials, toughness and hardness, coating thickness and other mechanical and chemical properties.

6) Coating of aluminum alloys

Coating aluminum components and tools, respectively, of different types of duralumin, is an application that reflects the great potential of coating. It allows you to create components that are light, inexpensive, and ductile. The added coating gives it the hardness and other necessary properties.

7) Coating of non-conductive coatings

Non-conductive PVD coatings are mainly DLC layers and oxide coatings. DLC coatings are widely used as tribological coatings to reduce friction in machine tools such as coatings with excellent corrosion resistance and luxurious decorative coatings.

Oxides have not been used for a long time in industrial practice on tools and components due to the complicated process of deposition. With their good electrical insulation capabilities, they complicate the formation and duration of a stable coating process. To control the growth of oxide coatings, a special control mechanism must be used.

Oxide coatings (Al2O3, (AlCr) 2O3 and Cr2O3) are mainly used to protect against high-temperature oxidation and as excellent anti-adhesion coatings against plastic, aluminum alloys and other non-ferrous metals.

8) Knife coating

The blades are coated with PVD coatings for corrosion resistance, abrasive wear and a lucrative look.

We are able to coat individual pieces with different coatings, even at low temperatures.

DLC layer - diamond-like carbon - is the most demanding PVD knife layer due to its extra hardness (25 GPa), black (4% reflectivity) and high surface tension (not on the dirt surface) and 100% .

The DLC is composed of carbon, either in the sp2 configuration - then it is graphene and brings excellent sliding properties to the coating - and in sp3 configuration - it is a diamond and ensures hardness of the layer.

Usually, we apply the CrN / DLC-W layer to the knife. A 200 nm thick layer of chromium nitride improves the adhesion of the DLC layer to the knife and the amorphous DLC layer in the carbide matrix provides the desired properties.