Coating of Parts

We are able to coat three-dimensional objects and substrates made of metal, ceramic, glass, and plastic to improve their function and service life by suitably modifying the surface properties. We can increase the corrosion, scratch, and wear resistance of tools and component parts through use of vacuum coating technologies such as sputtering, plasma-activated high-rate evaporation, and high-rate PECVD. Decorative and sophisticated optical properties as well as biofunctionality and biocompatibility can also be achieved by applying suitable coatings and multilayer coating systems.

We can directly test the effect of the coatings and thus demonstrate to our customers comprehensive solutions for improving their components using physical characterization methods from the field of materials science as well as carry out biocompatibility tests in our biomedical laboratory. Our services range from feasibility studies to short-run coating samples and transfer of technology to regular production based on high-performance equipment developed at Fraunhofer FEP.

Our services include all necessary steps for a development project – from the concept phase to technology transfer:

• Feasibility studies
• Sample coatings
• Conceptualization of an R&D project complete with work packages, milestones, and costing
• Development of coating systems and coating technologies for coating of components and tools
• Development and supply of technology components (substrate heating, plasma sources, magnetron sputter sources, and process control equipment)
• Support for incorporation and integration of our technology into the customer's production processes
• Advice on process selection, plant design, productivity, and cost estimates
• Licensing
  

This development work is supplemented and supported by:

• Acquisition and coordination of projects state-, federal-, and European Union-funded projects
• Studies of the current state of technology and engineering, such as literature and patent searches
• Economic feasibility studies

• Wear-protection layers for tools
• Reduction of biocorrosion and abrasion in implants
• Corrosion-protection coatings on small parts (in bulk)
• Coatings for high-strength joining components in lightweight and composite automotive construction, featuring a high-performance corrosion-protection layer
• Anatase TiO2 layers for enhancing the biocompatibility of medical implants and instruments
• Photocatalytic titanium-dioxide coatings (TiO2) for medical devices and products
• Coatings for shielding electromagnetic fields and electrically insulating layers for improving operation (such as in pacemakers)
• Optical multilayer systems applied to 3D bodies
• Sterilization or disinfection using gas plasmas, UVC radiation and low-energy electrons
• Sterilization of fragile products including plastics, thermolabile materials, organic materials and tissue with/without multilayer coatings, ceramics, textiles, hydrogels, and electronic components - even after packaging
• Grafting and crosslinking of surface (molecules) of polymers and biological materials to inhibit in vivo degeneration
• Producing specific wetting behaviour for biological media

Several pilot and laboratory facilities are available at Fraunhofer FEP for our development work. Our high-throughput pilot plants enable us to investigate questions from technology upscaling through to pilot production during development projects. We can draw on the following systems for your optimum coating solution depending on the substrate, coating technology, and the coating materials:

Fraunhofer FEP has numerous additional full-scale production-emulation facilities at its disposal for coating larger areas. You can find more information here: