SPECIALIZED COATINGS
Specialized Coatings
DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) Coating
Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating is a thin-film coating applied via a Plasma-assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition (PaCVD) process. This coating combines very low frictional resistance and extreme hardness. The coatings are used to reduce wear and friction in a wide range of industrial applications but Del West uses it primarily for rapidly reciprocating components where friction reduction is a primary goal. Commonly, our applications for this coating are finger followers, tappets and piston pins.
CrN (Chromium Nitride)
CrN is a thin film coating applied via a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) process. We utilize a cathodic arc discharged at the target to evaporate the chromium into a highly ionized vapor, which is done in a partial pressure of nitrogen. We use this method as opposed to another common PVD process called sputtering method in which a glow plasma discharge bombards the material and thus sputters some away as a vapor. Our method provides a higher level of adhesion to the metal substrate we are coating. Our most common applications for this coating are valves — titanium, steel, and nickel based.
PEO (Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation) Surface Conversion
PEO is a high density and hardness ceramic conversion of light alloys surfaces such as aluminum and aluminum Metal Matrix Composite. We apply at finished conversion depths of up to 30 microns and hardness of more than 1400Hv. It further separates itself from other surface treatments like anodize both in its intrinsic adhesion to the substrate where is located as well as its improved fatigue strength over anodize. Applications are wide ranging for this but include liners for pneumatic springs, bushings used in cylinder heads, and watch components.
Thermally Sprayed Coatings
Thermal spraying can provide thick coatings (50+mm depending on the process), over a large area at high deposition rate as compared to other coating processes such as PVd or PaCVD. These are coatings that for Del West include plasma spraying and High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) spraying that have been traditionally applied to our valve products and are currently widely used in all forms of racing world-wide to protect the stems and tips.
Del West. Precisely.