Diamond-Like-Carbon (DLC) Coating

Reduce friction, wear, fretting, galling and corrosion with environmentally friendly DLC coatings

DLC Coatings - Diamond-Like Carbon

Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coatings can be deposited by different technologies such as PVD arc, PVD sputtering and PACVD processes. The choice of technology and deposition parameters allow for a wide variety of performance characteristics, including hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated DLC coatings.

DLC coatings are environmentally friendly and can be used to reduce friction, wear, fretting, galling and corrosion. They can also be used to modify electrical conductivity and wettability. Due to the attractive colors of DLC coatings (ranging from anthracite to deep black), they are often applied in decorative applications such as watchmaking, jewelry, kitchen and bath hardware, automotive interiors, firearms and other fields, combining both aesthetics and performance.

Get in touch

What is a Diamond-Like-Carbon (DLC) Coating?

DLC coatings offer a unique combination of high hardness and low friction coefficient → ‘the hardness of diamond and the lubricity of graphite’.

We are thus able to engineer DLC coatings to make them harder like diamond or softer like graphite – according to the requirements that a specific application demands.

Furthermore, DLC coatings can be doped to include metallic elements and can include multi-layered structures that further enhance the performance and flexibility of such coatings.

DLC coating solutions

DLC Characteristics

Low friction coefficient
Excellent abrasion protection
Excellent protection against galling, cold welding and fretting
Corrosion protection in selected corrosive media
Attractive color range from anthracite to deep black

Application Methods

PVD deposition via Arc and Sputtering
Plasma Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition (PACVD)

Common DLC applications

Engine wear parts and injectors
Aerospace fasteners and components
Industrial machinery components
Aluminum and non-ferrous metal forming
Plastic injection molding tools
Watches and jewelry
Medical instruments
Cutting tools
Hard chrome replacement

High quality DLC coatings for medical and industrial applications

Tribobond™ 40 series

The Tribobond™ 40 series of DLC coatings are designed to respond to various tribological challenges. These coatings convince by their hardness, abrasion resistance, fatigue resistance and low friction losses.

Find more information in our Components Coating Portfolio

Medthin™ 40 series

The Medthin™ 40 series of DLC coatings provide excellent protection against abrasion, tribo-oxydation and adhesive wear. They are ideally suited for coating of medical instruments, tools and implants.

Find more information in our Medical Coating Portfolio

Tetrabond™ Plus ta-C

Tetrabond™ Plus T-aC is a non-hydrogenated diamond like carbon (DLC) film with a micro hardness of more than 5000 HV. This coating stands out due to its low thickness, very high hardness and anti-stick properties which makes it an excellent choice for machining a wide range of plastics and sticky materials.

More information about Tetrabond Plus

DLC coatings for luxury and fashion goods

Diamondblack™ ADLC Coating

Ionbond’s Diamondblack™ ADLC is a PACVD coating specifically developed for luxury and fashion goods. Its characteristic hardness and impact and scratch resistance, combined with the noble black metallic look, make this carbon based coating an ideal styling element for watches and fashion accessories.