Project: Functional nano- and microporous carbon based coatings for tools and components

Aim of the CARBONBON project is to develop a multifunctional coated surface. This provides solutions for: 1) components with lower friction for modern engines with low energy consumption and lower emissions; and 2) metal forming tools allowing cutting and forming with higher efficiency and allowing the forming of novel high strength materials.The objectives of the project are to develop carbon based physical vapour deposition (PVD) coatings combined with laser processing in order to provide enhanced lubricating properties. The innovation is to develop a hybrid function of controlled microporosity and self-lubrication. The microporous structure can transport lubricants to the tribological contact thus minimizing the need to use excess amounts of lubricants and lubrication additives. It also reduces the friction in critical contact conditions, such as the piston/ring contacts in combustion engines. The embedding of solid lubricants enhances the boundary lubrication at high contact stress (e.g. in metal forming) and extends the operation temperature of the coatings to significantly higher temperatures (e.g. in energy industry components).The innovations are as follows: Optimal topography of the coated surface will be developed by combining laser microprocessing (μscale) and by adjusting coating process parameters (nm scale). This allows the tailoring of the pore structure to be optimal for the particular contact and lubricant replenishing conditions. The embedding of solid lubricants into the coating is accomplished also by using multilayer deposition.As an expected outcome of the project innovative multifunctional coating solutions will be developed for components and products e.g. in diesel engines and in energy and process industry valves. The results will boost the development of novel metal forming tools and processes applied e.g. in automotive industry. The results will allow the European industry to develop knowledge based new products being the leading edge in global competition. The commercialization of the results will take place as the new products of the Partner companies enter to the market in about 3 - 5 years after the project. Wide exploitation of results is foreseen since the companies represent different positions in the value chain of products. An increase of SMEs; turnover is estimated to be 10 - 20%. The optimal topography of the coated surface will be developed by combining laser microprocessing (μscale) and by adjusting coating process parameters (nm scale). This allows the tailoring of the pore structure to be optimal for the particular contact and lubricant replenishing conditions. As an expected outcome innovative multifunctional coating solutions will be developed into components and products e.g. in diesel engines and process industry valves. The results will boost the development of novel metal forming tools and processes applied e.g. in automotive industry. The results will allow the European industry to develop knowledge based new products being the leading edge in global competition.

Acronym	CARBONBON (Reference Number: MFM-1886)
Project Topic	Multi-functional materials
Network	MATERA+
Call	Matera+ Call

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	Aalto University of Science and Technology	Coordinator	Finland
2	VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland	Partner	Finland
3	DIARC Technology Oy	Partner	Finland
4	Istituto di Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali Ceramici (ISTEC - CNR)	Partner	Italy
5	Wolframcarb SpA	Partner	Italy
6	UFS SRL	Partner	Italy