Applied technologies
Cleaning
Pre-cleaning of details is carried out in several steps. The initial cleaning is done in an industrial washing machine with degreasing detergent and deionized water. We have our own plant for production of deionized water with initial conductivity 0,5 µS. Subsequent washing with pure deionized water is accomplished in two steps in ultrasonic baths. Drying is made in a vacuum oven to prevent further oxidation of details.
Coatings
We chose to deposit our coatings by reactive magnetron sputtering. For this purpose we use the so-called Closed Field Unbalanced Magnetron Sputter System. The technology enables the deposition of a variety of coatings, the main advantage is that they are smooth and free of macro particles. Another advantage of this technology is the possibility for deposition of nitrides, carbonitrides and/or carbides of three different metals with gradient change in the composition, and nanolaminates. Our main advantage is the ability to deposit a carbon-based nanocomposites and coatings of pure, Hydrogen-free DLC.
Our system is composed of three highly unbalanced magnetron located close to each other, with built-in Gas Injection System. Reactive gases flow in the chamber with digital mass flow controllers and the total system pressure is measured and controlled by a capacitive vacuum gauge Baratron 627 B, which ensures high measurement accuracy, long-term stability and repeatability of the process parameters.
A magnetic system scans the surface of the cathode targets to increase the coefficient of use of the target material.
Operating temperature during the process of coatings deposition is maintained constant within a tolerance of 5 ° C.
Planetary mechanism provides three axes of rotation of the substrates, thus ensuring uniformity and equality of the coating thickness.
System for automatic control of the process parameters during application based on PLC Siemens and PC is used to ensure process parameters repeatability. Data log files are available.
Quality Control
Nanotech Group has kalotester for measurement and control of the coatings thickness and Brinell Hardness tester for control of their adhesion. We are in process of designing and manufacturing a Ball-on-disk tribotester for control of the wear-resistance and durability of coatings. We have signed a contract with Central Laboratory of Applied Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Plovdiv for the microhardness measurements of our coatings.
Coating processes The deposition of coatings is possible due to processes with different type and duration, controlled by software developed specifically for our machine. Each process is memorized and can be accurately reproduced.
Middle temperature processes Conventional middle temperature processes occur at temperatures from 360° to 400°C. The following substrate materials can be coated:
Cleaning
Pre-cleaning of details is carried out in several steps. The initial cleaning is done in an industrial washing machine with degreasing detergent and deionized water. We have our own plant for production of deionized water with initial conductivity 0,5 µS. Subsequent washing with pure deionized water is accomplished in two steps in ultrasonic baths. Drying is made in a vacuum oven to prevent further oxidation of details. Coatings
We chose to deposit our coatings by reactive magnetron sputtering. For this purpose we use the so-called Closed Field Unbalanced Magnetron Sputter System. The technology enables the deposition of a variety of coatings, the main advantage is that they are smooth and free of macro particles. Another advantage of this technology is the possibility for deposition of nitrides, carbonitrides and/or carbides of three different metals with gradient change in the composition, and nanolaminates. Our main advantage is the ability to deposit a carbon-based nanocomposites and coatings of pure, Hydrogen-free DLC. Our system is composed of three highly unbalanced magnetron located close to each other, with built-in Gas Injection System. Reactive gases flow in the chamber with digital mass flow controllers and the total system pressure is measured and controlled by a capacitive vacuum gauge Baratron 627 B, which ensures high measurement accuracy, long-term stability and repeatability of the process parameters.
A magnetic system scans the surface of the cathode targets to increase the coefficient of use of the target material.
Operating temperature during the process of coatings deposition is maintained constant within a tolerance of 5 ° C.
Planetary mechanism provides three axes of rotation of the substrates, thus ensuring uniformity and equality of the coating thickness.
System for automatic control of the process parameters during application based on PLC Siemens and PC is used to ensure process parameters repeatability. Data log files are available.
Quality Control
Nanotech Group has kalotester for measurement and control of the coatings thickness and Brinell Hardness tester for control of their adhesion. We are in process of designing and manufacturing a Ball-on-disk tribotester for control of the wear-resistance and durability of coatings. We have signed a contract with Central Laboratory of Applied Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Plovdiv for the microhardness measurements of our coatings.
Coating processes The deposition of coatings is possible due to processes with different type and duration, controlled by software developed specifically for our machine. Each process is memorized and can be accurately reproduced.
Middle temperature processes Conventional middle temperature processes occur at temperatures from 360° to 400°C. The following substrate materials can be coated:
- Tungsten carbide (WC)
- High-speed steel (HSS)
- Stainless steel
- Brass, bronze, copper, aluminum alloys, etc.
- Cold work steel