CVD coatings
Chemical Vapor Deposition
Ionbond™ CVD coating service
The Ionbond™ CVD process has been developed in the early 1970s. The deposition process uses metal halides as coating precursors, such as TiCl4 or AlCl3. Over the years, the technology has been continuously improved in order to respond to increasing market requirements to quality of the coatings, reliability and productivity of the process and equipment. The CVD process is used to deposit 5 to 12, in special cases up to 20, µm thick coatings. Materials employed are TiC, TiCN, TiN and α or κ aluminum oxide (Al203). They are applied as single or multi-layers on inserts for cutting applications, forming and molding tools like punches, extrusion and trimming dies and various mechanical components subject to abrasive or corrosive environments.
Advantages of CVD coatings
The typical process temperatures for Ionbond™ CVD coatings are between 900 and 1050 °C for the HT CVD and between 720 and 900 °C for the Ionbond™ MT CVD process. Substrate materials are tungsten carbides, tool steels, high temperature nickel alloys, ceramics and graphite. Tempered steel tools and components require heat treatment after coating to re-establish the required hardness.
Low stress
Coatings with low stress levels
Exceptional adhesion
Exceptional adhesion of the coating due to formation of the diffusion bond
Capacity
High load bearing capacity
Coating uniformity
Excellent coating uniformity, independent of part geometry
Complex geometries
Possibility to coat complex geometries, including certain inner diameters
What is CVD coating technology?
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) is a method for producing low stress coatings by means of thermally-induced chemical reactions. The material of the coating is supplied to the coating zone as vapor of the respective precursor. The vapor then either decomposes or reacts with additional precursors, thus producing a film on the substrate. The precursors are continuously fed into the reaction zone and by-products are removed. CVD processes can be carried out under vacuum or at atmospheric pressure.
Frequently asked questions on CVD
CVD coatings reduce long term costs and increase efficiency. Costs are reduced due to longer-lasting tools and increased cutting speeds and feeds, which results in higher productivity. CVD coated tools can be run with dry or with minimum lubrication (or release agents in the case of forming tools) saving both operating and recycling costs. CVD coatings on mechanicals reduce friction and wear and improve performance and reliability.
Prior to coating, substrates (tools and components) need to be free of any foreign matter, oils and grease on the surfaces that are to be coated, but also in all other areas. The cleaning process is an essential element that determines the adhesion and thus influences the performance of the coated part or tool. All parts are cleaned by Ionbond prior to coating, using a designated process. Ionbond encourages customers to discuss the optimum requirements for their substrates in order to ensure top performance.
The CVD processes produce uniform and homogeneous coatings on the outside and the inside of the part or tool, which rests static in the chamber.
The degree to which masking can be performed depends on the process. Masking is generally easy in case of the PVD process, which is a line of sight process, but more difficult for the PACVD and very difficult in the case of CVD.
Typical lead times are 3 to 5 days. Test parts and samplings take more time as fixturing and process design is required.
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