The best of two worlds - Ionbond™ 42 for forming high-strength aluminum
As one of the global leaders in PVD, CVD and PACVD coating technology, Ionbond™ had the foresight to spot an important global automotive engineering trend years ago – lightweight design. This trend aims to reduce vehicle weight to improve fuel economy while maintaining strength for passenger safety purposes, and has catapulted the use of high-strength aluminum into the limelight.
New trends bring new challenges
Forming high-strength aluminum brings challenges from a tooling and tool coating perspective. The two primary challenges are adhesion (sticking) of the aluminum to the surface of the tool and abrasion from the aluminum oxide on the tool’s surface and the silicon in the aluminum alloy. These challenges are even more pronounced when no lubrication is used or the boundary lubrication layer breaks, as they can lead to machine downtime, reduced production and high scrap rate.
Ionbond’s low-friction, abrasion-resistant coatings
To reduce the impact of adhesion and abrasion on the forming process for high-strength aluminum, Ionbond offers a multilayer CrN + a-C:H (DLC+nitride) coating in many of our 35 coating centers in Europe, Asia and North America, under the brand name Ionbond™ 42. Ionbond™ 42 has a proven track record in the Ionbond™ coating portfolio for trimming and piercing high-strength aluminum.
The family of diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings provides excellent protection against adhesion and abrasion and can exhibit a range of properties. Their low coefficient of friction and anti-sticking behavior make hydrogenated DLC (a-C:H) coatings attractive solutions for forming high-strength aluminum. However, forming processes also generate high impact and shear forces and involve abrasive loading. This requires an optimized coating architecture that supports the C:H coatings with sufficient toughness against impact fatigue and resistance against abrasion. That is where nitride hard coatings such as CrN demonstrate their strengths. Ionbond™ 42 combines the best of the worlds of DLC and nitride hard coatings.
Would you like to know more about Ionbond 42™?
If you want to learn more about the background of forming high-strength aluminum, and about the development process of our Ionbond™ 42 coating, read our article in Stamping Journal. To discuss your aluminum forming application and increasing your production process and product quality with Ionbond™ 42, please contact Tobias Brögelmann, Ionbond’s Global Segment Manager Forming & Molding tools.
¿Preguntas?
Hable de sus retos con Tobias Brögelmann
Tobias Brögelmann, Director de segmento mundial Herramientas de formado y moldeado, estará encantado de ayudarle.
Le responderemos lo antes posible.
Dr. Ing. Tobias Brögelmann
Director de segmento mundial Herramientas de formado y moldeado
Dr. Ing. Tobias Brögelmann
Director de segmento mundial Herramientas de formado y moldeado
Puede que te interese...
Presentamos Olive Drap Green
Un nuevo y atrevido recubrimiento PVD para condiciones extremas
En respuesta a la demanda del mercado de durabilidad y estilo en las condiciones más duras, Ionbond se enorgullece de presentar su último color decorativo: el recubrimiento PVD Olive Drap Green (ODG) para sustratos metálicos.
Ionbond's 2025 highlights
As the year closes, we take a clear look at what we achieved together. We value every step our teams, customers and partners made possible. Each month in 2025 reflects a specific gift that shaped our progress. Please unwrap the video and explore the gifts that defined 2025.
Ampliación de la capacidad de recubrimiento en Ionbond Berthecourt
Nos complace anunciar una importante inversión en nuestras instalaciones de Berthecourt: la instalación de una nueva máquina Hauzer Flexicoat 1000 con tecnología CARC+ avanzada. Esta mejora estratégica amplía significativamente nuestra capacidad de recubrimiento y productividad, lo que nos permite satisfacer las crecientes demandas de los clientes con mayor eficiencia.
Ionbond proudly receives Bosch Global Supplier Award
Ionbond has received a Bosch Global Supplier Award in the category "Materials and components" and thus ranks globally among the best suppliers of Bosch. The theme of this year’s award ceremony was “Challenge accepted: resilient partnerships, sustainable future,” in recognition of successful collaboration.
Ionbond™ CVD 29 Ultra: Rendimiento mejorado en corte continuo e interrumpido
Ionbond se complace en anunciar la última incorporación a su gama de recubrimientos de deposición química en fase vapor (CVD): Ionbond™ CVD 29 Ultra. Este recubrimiento proporciona un impresionante aumento del rendimiento en aplicaciones exigentes, como el mecanizado continuo e interrumpido de alto rendimiento.
55 años de recubrimiento CVD: grandes recuerdos y un futuro prometedor
Ionbond & Bernex celebra 55 años de excelencia en recubrimiento CVD, desde sus orígenes en Suiza hasta la innovación global. Descubra nuestra trayectoria, nuestra visión de futuro y nuestro impacto en la industria. Lea la entrevista completa para explorar cómo estamos dando forma al próximo capítulo en tecnología de superficies.
Recubrimiento Ionbond Ducro: recubrimiento PVD de cromo negro oscuro frío con características superiores
Un llamativo color antracita frío + excelente rendimiento en condiciones extremas. Así es el recubrimiento Ionbond Ducro. Obtenga más información sobre las ventajas de Ducro y déjese sorprender por su aspecto.
Ionbond amplía su capacidad de recubrimiento DLC en Toulouse
Ionbond se enorgullece de anunciar una inversión estratégica en sus instalaciones de Grisolles, cerca de Toulouse, Francia, con la instalación de un sistema de recubrimiento HC1200 de IHI Hauzer para ampliar significativamente nuestra capacidad de recubrimiento DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon).
Join the Ionbond Summer School about fundamentals of PVD coatings for decorative applications
We are excited to launch the second edition of the Ionbond Summer School program. This time on the fundamentls of Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) for Decorative Applications. Discover and learn more about the technology, color ranges, and how to choose the right coating for your application.