Surface Coatings

Plasma treatment refers to the use of an ionized gas to increase (hydrophilic) or decrease (hydrophobic) the energy of any surface at either low pressure or atmospheric pressure. It is commonly used as a preparation method for many types of coatings. In some instances it is an excellent pre-treatement for Parylene. Often the gas used is similar to atmoshperic air, although an oxygen-rich gas can be used for an enhanced effect.

Lately, it is used in the textile industry to achieve hydrophilisation or hydrophobisation. It has other positive effects also, like improvement in adhesion and the accumulation of functional groups to the surface.

Cardient® FMC is a biocompatible and biofunctional coating specially developed for medical and biological applications.

The coating is an amorphous carbon layer with a quasi-diamond-like structure that is particularly suitable for flexible polymer-based medical implants. Implants coated with Cardient® FMC remain neutral to cells and other living microorganisms. The implants can be excellently colonized with somatic cells and are rapidly incorporated into the body. At the same time, due to the low interdependence between the surface and biomolecules, adhesion forces are reduced such that the population of biomolecules on implants in e.g. tubular structures of the body is reduced.

Materials that can be coated include polymeric materials as well as high temperature sensitive materials.

Applications include catheters, stents and sensors. One of the best-known applications of Cardient® FMC is the coating of urological stents. Here it creates a smooth, crust-free surface on the implant and increases patient comfort.

It consists of an amorphous carbon layer doped with various precursors to adjust the contact angle, e.g. with water or oil. In addition, the doping can be modified to create anchor points for molecules such as drugs.

Applications include microfluidic systems and urologic and vascular catheters.

Materials that can be coated are polymer materials, metals, ceramics and high temperature sensitive materials.

Low-pressure plasma is used to produce the self-cleaning Cardient® TiX coating.

Cardient® TiX is a supercrystalline titanium oxide that remains photocatalytic for several hours when exposed to UV light, resulting in the decoupling of hydrogen and the breakdown of organic bonds. The released hydrogen kills bacteria and germs – the surface becomes germ-free. If the coating is additionally hydrophilized, it is also very easy to clean.

The released hydrogen radicals attack bacteria and germs – the surface becomes germ-free. If Cardient® TiX is additionally hydrophilic, the surface can be easily cleaned with water.

Cardient® TiX surfaces are:
self-cleaning
antibacterial
rot-proof
anti-fogging

Applications include diagnostic surfaces, optical devices and bone implants.

The Cardient® superhard coating is produced in a PECVD process.

Cardient® superhard was specially developed for applications where functionality is lost after only minor wear.

The coating is made of amorphous carbon with a close diamond-like structure and density. Like all carbon-based coatings, the surface is highly biocompatible, making it suitable for medical applications.

Applications include medical cutting tools such as scalpels, trephines, and microstructured surfaces.

Materials that can be coated include metals, ceramics and special plastics, as well as temperature-sensitive materials such as hardened steel.

The extreme surface density of the so-called Cardient®-Resist is generated by a series of magnetic and high-frequency fields.

Cardient®-Resist is a corrosion-resistant, chemically inert metallic layer coating based on carbon. Its main feature is its extreme hardness and very good wear resistance, coupled with unusual tribological properties. Another major advantage is that contamination and wear materials do not adhere to the surface.

Applications include cutting tools, easily smearable tools such as milling tools for aluminum, copper, polymers and optical surfaces, and applications that have high cutting friction such as valves, camshafts and bearings.

Materials that can be coated with Cardient® Resist include hard materials such as metals, ceramics, specialty plastics, and also temperature-sensitive materials such as hardened.

The extreme surface density of the so-called Cardient® resist is generated by a series of magnetic and high-frequency fields.

Cardient® tribo is a coating with extremely low friction values. At the same time, wear is drastically reduced due to the extreme hardness.

The high hardness is caused by ion bombardment (forging process) during the coating build-up. The parameters are optimized to combine low friction with high wear resistance.

Materials that can be coated include metals, ceramics and special plastics, as well as temperature-sensitive materials such as hardened steel.

Applications include engine parts such as piston rings, valve components, big-end bearings, cam followers, and transmission parts and bearings.