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Diamonite®...Engineered. Performance. Solution.
Diamonite® is an aqueous, autocatalytic metal plating system that deposits a very hard, wear resistant electroless plating that can be applied on a variety of metallic substrates. This process utilizes boron and deposits a smooth and uniform plating barrier on inside diameters and on complex configurations of parts. Diamonite exhibits wear resistance and hardness superior to that of electroplated hard chromium.
Hardness:
The hardness of the Diamonite plating has been measured using microhardness techniques. The hardness measurements were made on polished cross sections of the plating using a Vickers indentor and loads of 10 and 50 grams. A minimum plating thickness of one mil (0.001 inch) was used for all samples. The hardness of Diamonite plating as a function of heat treating is typical of 72+Rc.
Diamonite is harder both as plated and heat treated than electroless nickel-phosphorus and also has a hardness after heat treatment greater than hard chromium. In addition Diamonite is non-fatiguing on high strength steels and titanium as it does not induce hydrogen embrittlement. The plating exhibits excellent adhesion to most metals and is ductile even when heat treated to maximum hardness.
Wear Resistance:
The relative wear resistance of Diamonite plating has been measured using the Dow-Corning LFW-1 Alpha Test. It is a ring on block arrangement that can be run lubricated under various loading conditions. The typical test conditions used and a comparison to hard chromium is shown in the chart to the right. The magnitude of the wear scar is an indication of the wear resistance of the plating. Higher values indicate lower wear resistance, thus more wear occuring. The wear scar area was measured using a Brush Surfanalyzer. The wear resistance of Diamonite has also been measured by ASTM G133-05 test method. The parameters were: ball-C2 tungsten carbide 0.5 diameter, 30,600 1 inch strokes, six hours, load-2.0 kg, and condition- dry. Results were Scar Width- 12.mm, Scar Depth 2.5 microns (.0001”). Diamonite was found to be “extremely wear resistant.”
Lubrication: Static Coefficient of Friction
Diamonite exhibits a lower coefficient of friction than most metals. This feature combined with its hardness enhances its wear resistance.
Temperature Resistance:
Diamonite has a melting point of 2192°F to 2552°F, and maintains most of it’s hardness and wear properties during continuous use up to 1000°F. Above these temperatures Diamonite will still perform to a high level but will begin to sacrifice hardness and wear properties.
Ductility:
Because the formation of the Diamonite plating is columnar rather than laminar, it exhibits very good ductility and impact resistance even at it’s higher hardness levels.
Surface Characteristics:
The Diamonite plating is nodular when applied to surfaces with surface finishes greater than about 10AA. The size of the nodules increases as the plating thickness is increased. The nodularity of the plating is helpful in providing areas for entrapment of lubricant in lubricated wear processes and reduces surface area contact. When increasing the plating thickness the surface finish goes from 48AA at a one mil plating thickness to 56AA for a 3 mil coating. No differences in surface structure appearance as a result of heat treating the plating.
Application for Diamonite Coatings:
The Diamonite process provides unique opportunities to plate a variety of substrate materials. The hardness and wear resistance of Diamonite make them candidates for many applications previously excluded from commercialization by other coatings. Metallic substrates plated include a variety of metalworking tools, saws, cutters, knives, and wear surfaces. In a metalworking tool such as a drill, the plating is applied evenly over the intricate surface without buildup at the sharp edges. A tool of this type can be used without changing
any of the normal use procedures including resharpening. Since the plating remains at the cutting edge after resharpening, re-working is not required. On wear surfaces used in the processing of polymers, there are also advantages in using a plating that is applied evenly and requires no refinishing. Screw sections for injection molding machines can be plated without the need for refinishing operations before using the part.
Plating the inside surfaces of holes also can be achieved with Diamonite in most applications if the solution can come into contact to the surface being plated. An experiment undertaken to determine the effectiveness of the bath in through hole plating showed that with a length to diameter ratio of over 100 there was only an 8 percent difference in the plating thickness from the inside to the outside of the tube. The tube used had a 0.25 inch inside diameter and was 26 inches long. The plating thickness was 2.92 mils at the center of the inside of the tube and 3.17 mils at the center of the outside of the tube. The tube was hung vertically in the plating bath. The thickness was measured microscopically.
Summary
The Diamonite plating process deposits a composition of hard, wear resistant metal alloys that can be uniformly deposited to metal surfaces including holes and undercuts. The surface finish developed on the platings is a function of the substrate surface finish. Intricate surfaces can be plated evenly without difficulty. This process has been used to plate a wide variety of metallic substrate materials including tools, process equipment parts, and wear surfaces.
Hardness:
The hardness of the Diamonite plating has been measured using microhardness techniques. The hardness measurements were made on polished cross sections of the plating using a Vickers indentor and loads of 10 and 50 grams. A minimum plating thickness of one mil (0.001 inch) was used for all samples. The hardness of Diamonite plating as a function of heat treating is typical of 72+Rc.
Diamonite is harder both as plated and heat treated than electroless nickel-phosphorus and also has a hardness after heat treatment greater than hard chromium. In addition Diamonite is non-fatiguing on high strength steels and titanium as it does not induce hydrogen embrittlement. The plating exhibits excellent adhesion to most metals and is ductile even when heat treated to maximum hardness.
Wear Resistance:
The relative wear resistance of Diamonite plating has been measured using the Dow-Corning LFW-1 Alpha Test. It is a ring on block arrangement that can be run lubricated under various loading conditions. The typical test conditions used and a comparison to hard chromium is shown in the chart to the right. The magnitude of the wear scar is an indication of the wear resistance of the plating. Higher values indicate lower wear resistance, thus more wear occuring. The wear scar area was measured using a Brush Surfanalyzer. The wear resistance of Diamonite has also been measured by ASTM G133-05 test method. The parameters were: ball-C2 tungsten carbide 0.5 diameter, 30,600 1 inch strokes, six hours, load-2.0 kg, and condition- dry. Results were Scar Width- 12.mm, Scar Depth 2.5 microns (.0001”). Diamonite was found to be “extremely wear resistant.”
Lubrication: Static Coefficient of Friction
Diamonite exhibits a lower coefficient of friction than most metals. This feature combined with its hardness enhances its wear resistance.
Temperature Resistance:
Diamonite has a melting point of 2192°F to 2552°F, and maintains most of it’s hardness and wear properties during continuous use up to 1000°F. Above these temperatures Diamonite will still perform to a high level but will begin to sacrifice hardness and wear properties.
Ductility:
Because the formation of the Diamonite plating is columnar rather than laminar, it exhibits very good ductility and impact resistance even at it’s higher hardness levels.
Surface Characteristics:
The Diamonite plating is nodular when applied to surfaces with surface finishes greater than about 10AA. The size of the nodules increases as the plating thickness is increased. The nodularity of the plating is helpful in providing areas for entrapment of lubricant in lubricated wear processes and reduces surface area contact. When increasing the plating thickness the surface finish goes from 48AA at a one mil plating thickness to 56AA for a 3 mil coating. No differences in surface structure appearance as a result of heat treating the plating.
Application for Diamonite Coatings:
The Diamonite process provides unique opportunities to plate a variety of substrate materials. The hardness and wear resistance of Diamonite make them candidates for many applications previously excluded from commercialization by other coatings. Metallic substrates plated include a variety of metalworking tools, saws, cutters, knives, and wear surfaces. In a metalworking tool such as a drill, the plating is applied evenly over the intricate surface without buildup at the sharp edges. A tool of this type can be used without changing
any of the normal use procedures including resharpening. Since the plating remains at the cutting edge after resharpening, re-working is not required. On wear surfaces used in the processing of polymers, there are also advantages in using a plating that is applied evenly and requires no refinishing. Screw sections for injection molding machines can be plated without the need for refinishing operations before using the part.
Plating the inside surfaces of holes also can be achieved with Diamonite in most applications if the solution can come into contact to the surface being plated. An experiment undertaken to determine the effectiveness of the bath in through hole plating showed that with a length to diameter ratio of over 100 there was only an 8 percent difference in the plating thickness from the inside to the outside of the tube. The tube used had a 0.25 inch inside diameter and was 26 inches long. The plating thickness was 2.92 mils at the center of the inside of the tube and 3.17 mils at the center of the outside of the tube. The tube was hung vertically in the plating bath. The thickness was measured microscopically.
Summary
The Diamonite plating process deposits a composition of hard, wear resistant metal alloys that can be uniformly deposited to metal surfaces including holes and undercuts. The surface finish developed on the platings is a function of the substrate surface finish. Intricate surfaces can be plated evenly without difficulty. This process has been used to plate a wide variety of metallic substrate materials including tools, process equipment parts, and wear surfaces.