DLC Coatings

Diamond-Like Carbon combines the extreme hardness of diamond with the self-lubricating properties of graphite — delivering friction coefficients 200–500% lower than conventional PVD for precision components under heavy load.

2500–5000

Hardness (Hv)

500%

Lower Friction

<5 μm

Thickness

Technology Overview

Superior Hardness and Ultra-Low Friction

Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) represents a new generation of PVD and PECVD (Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition) coatings that combines diamond's unparalleled hardness with graphite's inherent lubricity. The result is a coating that outperforms conventional thin-film technologies in demanding friction and wear applications — delivering remarkable performance where other coatings fail.

Calico's CERTESS®CARBON product family is developed and applied through advanced Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) processes. The amorphous carbon structure creates a near-frictionless surface with hardness exceeding 2500 Hv, enabling components to operate under high contact stress with minimal lubrication — or no lubrication at all.

Biocompatibility makes DLC the preferred choice for surgical instruments, medical devices, and food contact surfaces. Easy-release properties make it ideal for plastic injection molds and precision dies. In automotive and aerospace applications, DLC on engine components, bearings, and valve trains reduces friction losses and extends component life beyond any other surface treatment.

4500 Hv

Max Hardness

<5 μm

Film Thickness

500%

Lower Friction vs. PVD

400°C

Max Use Temperature

Process Overview

Precision at Every Step

Step 01

Surface Preparation

Precision cleaning removes all surface contaminants, oils, and oxides. Surface roughness and geometry are optimized for DLC adhesion and film uniformity.

Step 02

Plasma Cleaning

In-chamber ion bombardment provides final surface activation, removes residual oxides at the atomic level, and maximizes adhesion energy for the DLC film.

Step 03

PECVD Deposition

Carbon precursor gases are decomposed in a plasma environment, depositing a dense, amorphous carbon film with a tunable sp³/sp² bond ratio to achieve the desired hardness and friction characteristics.

Step 04

Post-Coat Inspection

Rockwell adhesion, hardness, and thickness verification on witness samples. AS9100D certified documentation.

Why DLC

Advantages of Diamond-Like Carbon

Extreme Hardness

2500–4500 Hv hardness range — among the highest achievable through surface coating — for outstanding wear resistance in the most demanding applications.

Ultra-Low Friction

Friction coefficients 200–500% lower than conventional PVD coatings, enabling operation under high load with minimal or zero liquid lubrication.

Biocompatible

Certified for surgical instruments, medical devices, and food-contact equipment requiring inert, safe surfaces.

High Load-Bearing

Superior load-bearing capacity with multiple property combinations — hardness, lubricity, and adhesion — engineered for your specific contact stress and surface geometry.

DLC Coatings

Ready to Engineer Your Advantage?