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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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What is "Diamond Like Carbon" in PVD Technology?

2001

Dear All,

I would like to know the principle of "diamond like carbon" sputtering layer in PVD technology.

If you know it, please say something to me. Thanks.

David Koo
- Hong Kong

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Diamond-like carbon is a carbonaceous coating that has a mix of diamond bonds to make the surface hard and graphite bonds to give it a low coefficient of friction.

Jim Treglio - scwineryreview.com
PVD Consultant & Wine Lover - San Diego,
California
2001

Diamond-like-carbon (DLC) is a carbon coating that is a mixture of graphitic-bond and diamond-like bond crystal structure. The graphitic bonds are within the crystal planes and diamond like is are also within adjacent planes. Depending on the process, it has varying content of diamond structure resulting in proportional variation in hardness. If the bonding is aided by hydrogen coupling, it is called hydrogenated DLC; with pure carbon bonding it becomes intrinsic DLC. The bonding can also be aided by metallic impurities to enhance various coating properties.

Mandar Sunthankar
- Fort Collins, Colorado
2001