
DLC | Diamond-Like Carbon Coatings
DLC is an acronym for diamond-like carbon. DLC has some of the valuable properties of diamond, including: high hardness, low friction, resistance to wear, chemical inertness, biological compatability, electrical insulation, optical transparency, and smoothness. In common terms, DLC is harder than natural diamond and slicker than “Teflon.”
DLC coatings are used to impart some of the useful characteristics of diamonds onto other materials. DLC coatings can be deposited on nearly all metals, metal alloys, and also on nonmetals such as silicon, glass, ceramics, plastics, etc. DLC can be deposited at low (<200C) substrate temperature.
DLC coating has many commercial applications, including machine tools, aerospace parts, engine parts, medical implants, and high-end watches. Depending on the application, different formulations of DLC coatings are used.