Oerlikon Trading Ag, Truebbach

Oerlikon Trading Ag, Trubbach

Balzers Aktiengesellschaft

Oerlikon Surface Solutions Ag, Pfaffikon

Unaxis Trading Ag

Unaxis Balzers Limited

Oc Oerlikon Balzers Ltd.

Unaxis Balzers Aktiengsellschaft

Oerlikon Surface Solutions Ag, Trubbach

Christian Wohlrab

Jürgen Ramm

Beno Widrig

Orlaw Massler

Volker Derflinger

Mauro Pedrazzini

Hans Braendle

Thorsten Michler

Dennis T Quinto

Juergen Ramm

Martin Grischke

Hubert Eberle

Michael Ante

Albert Koller

Wolfgang Kalss

Udo Rauch

Harald Zimmermann

Norbert Froemel

Caroline Siebert

Markus Hofer

Roman Bischof

Dennis Quinto

A PVD layer system for the coating of workpieces encompasses at least one mixed-crystal layer of a multi-oxide having the following composition: (Me1Me2)O, where Me1 and Me2 each represent at least one of the elements Al, Cr, Fe, Li, Mg, Mn, Nb, Ti, Sb or V. The elements of Me1 and Me2 differ from one another. The crystal lattice of the mixed-crystal layer in the PVD layer system has a corundum structure which in an x-ray diffractometrically analyzed spectrum of the mixed-crystal layer is characterized by at least three of the lines associated with the corundum structure. Also disclosed is a vacuum coating method for producing a mixed-crystal layer of a multi-oxide, as well as correspondingly coated tools and components.

Layer system with at least one mixed crystal layer of a multi-oxide

The invention relates to a method for operating an arc source, whereby an electric spark discharge is ignited and run on the surface of a target and the spark discharge is simultaneously fed a direct current with an associated constant voltage DV as well as a pulsed current generated by a periodically applied voltage signal. The voltage at the arc source is boosted over several microseconds and the shape of the voltage signal is in essence arbitrarily selectable.

Method for depositing electrically insulating layers

A method for producing a low-conductivity layer on at least one workpiece by vacuum coating is provided. The method includes operating an electrical arc discharge between an anode and a cathode of an arc source in an atmosphere containing a reactive gas. A small external magnetic field is generated to be essentially perpendicular to a target surface of a target, which is electrically connected to the cathode, to assist an evaporation process. A degree of recoating of the target surface by other coating sources in a vacuum coating installation is less than 10%, and the magnetic field is generated by a magnet system with an axially-polarized coil having a geometry similar in size to that of the target. Excitation current for the electrical arc discharge is supplied through the axially-polarized coil.

A method for manufacturing a cutting tool includes the steps of providing a body of cermet or cemented carbide, having a cutting edge with an edge radius Rsmaller than 40 &#x3bc;m, a flank a rake face, applying by PVD a single or a multilayer coating to at least a part of the surface of the body, comprising at least a part of the cutting edge and applying by PVD said single or multilayer coating, comprising PVD coating with at least one oxidic layer.

Cutting tool

The invention provides a single or a multilayer PVD coated sharp edged cutting tool, which can at the same time exhibit satisfactory wear and thermochemical resistance as well as resistance to edge chipping. The cutting tool comprises a sintered body made of a cemented carbide, a CBN, a cermet or a ceramic material having a cutting edge with an edge radius R, a flank and a rake face and a multilayer coating consisting of a PVD coating comprising at least one oxidic PVD layer covering at least parts of the surface of the sintered body. In one embodiment the edge radius Ris smaller than 40 &#x3bc;m, preferably smaller than or equal to 30 &#x3bc;m. The covered parts of the surface preferably comprise at least some parts of the sharp edge of the sintered body.

Method for producing poorly conductive and in particular nonconductive layers on at least one work piece by means of a vacuum-coating process in which an electric arc discharge is activated between at least one anode and the cathode of an arc source in a reactive-gas atmosphere, whereby on the surface of a target that is electrically connected to the cathode either none or only a small outer magnetic field is generated that extends essentially perpendicular to the target surface for assisting the evaporation process, the degree of recoating of the target surface by other coating sources is less than 10%, and the magnetic field is generated with a magnet system that encompasses at least one axially polarized coil with a geometry similar to the circumference of the target.

Method for manufacturing poorly conductive layers

A process and an arrangement by means of which it is possible to generate a layer system for the protection against wear, for the protection against corrosion and for improving the sliding properties or the like, which has an adhesive layer for the arrangement on a substrate, a transition layer for the arrangement on the adhesive layer and a cover layer of an adamantine carbon, the adhesive layer including at least one element from the Group which contains the elements of the 4, 5and 6Subgroup and silicon, the transition layer comprising carbon and at least one element from the above-mentioned Group, and the cover layer consisting essentially adamantine carbon, the layer system having a hardness of at least 15 GPa, preferably at least 20 GPa, and an adhesion of at least 3 HF.

DLC coating system and process and apparatus for making coating system

Workpiece with at least one functional face and a layer system deposited on at least a portion of the functional face as well as a structure pattern, which encompasses at least a portion of the layer system and which is comprised of at least one three dimensional micro structure () with structure depth S, characterized in that the deposited layer system is deposited with PVD, CVD or combined PCD/CVD processes, and the three dimensional micro structure () extends from the surface of the layer system () up into the workpiece, such that the latter is uncoated in a lower region of the micro structure ().

Structured coating system

The invention describes a device and a process that render possible the production of a layer system for wear protection, corrosion protection and improvement of the slipping properties and the like with an adhesion layer to be arranged on a substrate, a transition layer to be arranged on the adhesion layer and a covering layer of diamond-like carbon, wherein the adhesion layer comprises at least one element of the group of elements that contains the elements of the fourth, fifth and sixth subgroup of the periodic table and silicon, the transition layer comprises carbon and at least one element of the aforesaid groups and covering layer consists essentially of diamond-like carbon, the layer system having a hardness of at least 15 GPa, preferably at least 20 GPa, and an adhesion of at least 3 HF according to VDI 382l, Sheet The process used for the production of this layer system is such at the initial introduction of the substrate into a vacuum chamber and pumping to produce a vacuum of at least 10mbar, preferably 10mbar, is at first followed by the cleaning of the substrate surface to remove any adhering impurities and then by the plasma-supported deposition of the adhesion layer. Subsequently the transition layer is applied by the simultaneous deposition of the components of the adhesion layer and the deposition of carbon from the gaseous phase by means of plasma-CVD. The diamond-like carbon layer is then applied solely by means of plasma-supported deposition of carbon from the gaseous phase. During the process a biasing voltage is applied to the substrate, this voltage being pulsed in the medium-frequency range, while a superposed magnetic field stabilizes the plasma in the individual process steps. An appropriate device for carrying out the coating process therefore consists of a vacuum chamber () with a pumping system () for the production of a vacuum in the vacuum chamber, substrate holding devices () to receive the substrates to be coated, at least one gas supply unit () for dosing the supply of process gas, at least one vaporizer device () to make available coating material for deposition, an arc generation device () to ignite a low-voltage d.c. arc, a device () for the generation of a substrate biasing voltage and with at least one or several magnetic field generator devices () for the formation of a far magnetic field. The invention also describes a DLC-slipping layer system and a process for the production of such a system, which on its surface side is provided with an an additional slipping layer.

DLC layer system and method for producing said layer system

A coating is stripped off a work piece by applying a chromous and aluminiforous coat directly on the work piece and stripping the work piece with an alkaline solution containing a strong oxidant. A single-compartment system can be used, which includes a spray chamber including a circulatory spray-cycle system; a support for holding the work piece; and a media container connected to the spray chamber via a media circulation system.

Stripping apparatus and method for removal of coatings on metal surfaces

A layer system in particular for tools or machine components operated under insufficient lubrication or under dry operation conditions, is proposed, which system, starting from the base body, comprises a hard substance layer system, subsequently a metallic layer and finally a slide layer system, the last mentioned preferably made of Carbide, in particular of Tungstencarbide or Chromiumcarbide and dispersed Carbon.

Method to increase wear resistance of a tool or other machine component

A method for manufacturing a tool or machine component increases wear resistance by providing a base body made of a metal or of a hard metal and having a surface. At least a portion of the surface is vacuum coated with a hard solid layer system having at least one layer of a material selected from the group consisting of nitrides, carbides, oxides, carbonitrides, oxynitrides, and oxycarbonitrides of at least one metal. A metallic intermediate layer having the at least one metal is vacuum deposited on the hard solid layer system, and a sliding layer system is vacuum deposited on the metallic intermediate layer.

A set of machining tools containing at least two separate tools is provided, one of which is tailored for a certain type of application and the other tailored for another application or use. The first tool is particularly adapted for applications having service requirements where the coating on the basic body of the tool must have high adhesive strength, but need not have high hardness, and the second tool is for service requirements of high hardness for the hard material coating, where the adhesive strength is not important.

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Feldkirch, Austria

Christian Wohlrab