Development of Ceramic Coatings

A wide range of standard material systems can be offered for coating, including Al₂O₃, Al₂O₃-SiO₂, SiO₂, rare earth (di)silicates, yttrium aluminum garnet, ZrO₂, zirconium titanates, TiO₂, SiC, BN or SiBNC.

The coatings are adjusted depending on the customer’s favored application technique with respect to their processing properties. Depending on the application method and the formulation of the coating, layer thicknesses of about 50 nm to more than 100 µm are possible. Primarily, metallic and ceramic components are coated. After the application of the coating, the layers normally need to be baked. For this, furnaces with different atmospheres (air, inert, vacuum, reducing) and sizes are available. Alternative baking processes such as laser sintering are also possible (see Baber, J.; Raether, F.: Production of oxide ceramic coatings on glass by laser sintering). During the development of the baking process, it is important not to damage the substrate material. This is done in close coordination with the customer. If the baking process is not required by the customer or impossible for certain reasons, alternative approaches for consolidation of the coatings can be used.

Customized Solutions

The ceramic coatings are used as corrosion and wear protection, for surface sealing (see Nöth, A.; Vogt, J.: High-temperature stable gas-tight sealings for plasma-sprayed ceramic components), as heating layers or as non-adhesive coatings for metal melts. For characterization of the layers, numerous testing methods are available, also according to DIN EN certified standards. Often further tests are required for the application, in addition to the standardized tests. Therefore, in coordination with the customer, test methods are used, which are of relevance for the layer development or the use of the layer. On behalf of the customer, we coat components or test pieces and test them under application-oriented conditions if required.