Diamond & Hard Laser Coatings

This project has as main objectives, the development of new high hardness coatings, and the respective laser deposition technology, enabling the production of components with grips cores, and very resistant surfaces wear, following the current needs of specialization tools and components by engineering surfaces. The coatings to developed, will be based on metal matrix composites, reinforced with ceramic carbides on the one hand, and dispersions of diamond particles on the other, for such diverse applications as drilling tools and stone cutting, in the coating of process valves, or wear tools such as dies, former or nip rolls. The work plan to be performed, lasting 30 months, will focus primarily on three fields, respectively, the selection and definition of chemical strengthening compositions, the preparation of the powders and mixtures thereof and laser coating process, and the established consortium brings together qualified elements in these areas. Additionally, the consortium further provides extensive characterization of the performance of the coatings performed, through a series of wear tests and the execution of prototype samplers. The main competitive advantage offered by these coatings and by laser deposition process, passes true the variability of coatings which may be used, high substrate adhesion and homogeneity of the coatings themselves, in terms of structural quality, making them extremely desirable from a technological point of view and large industrial applicability. This is reinforced in this project by the presence of three reference companies in the tool wear sector.