Ion beam-based coating technology offers benefits for performance coatings

摘要

Neither chemical nor thermal, the IBED coating process is a physical surface treatment that can be used on any substrate material. No post-coating finishing is required. Many processes are used to apply performance coatings to precision machined components and manufacturing tooling. Conventional processes include electroplating, chemical-conversion coating, thermal spray, and physical vapor deposition (PVD), depending on the application. However, most processes have certain limitations in terms of the application temperatures required, the types of base materials that can be coated, and the need for postcoating refinishing. Until now, no single process has provided enough flexibility for coating a range of base materials for a variety of applications. Worthington BeamAlloy Corp., Columbus, Ohio, has developed and patented the Ion Beam Enhanced Deposition (IBED) surface-treatment process for precision components and tooling. This process can maximize performance of machinery and increase profitability through improved resistance to wear, corrosion, and other surface-related phenomena. Because IBED is a physical process, not chemical or thermal, coating adhesion and growth does not require the external application of heat, and processing temperatures can be held below 200 deg F (93 deg C) if desired. The process can deposit coatings composed of a wide range of metallurgical compositions and nanostructures, can be used on a variety of substrate materials, and does not require post-coating refinishing.