chemically formed ceramic coatings

Our offerings


Bodycote offers a unique range of thermochemically formed ceramic coatings for the prevention of wear and corrosion in a wide variety of industrial applications and for every type of surface.

Bodycote's ceramic coatings, which includes the K-Tech coatings range, have been uniquely developed for applications in specific industries. Several formulae cover a virtually limitless number of potential applications which can be applied to most ferrous and some non-ferrous metals.

Advanced surface technology

The application of Bodycote ceramics is tailored according to the substrate and end use requirement of the component.

Bodycote's thermochemically formed ceramic coatings represent a significant advance in surface engineering technology.

These exceptionally hard and wear-resistant coatings offer a number of advantages compared with other ceramics:

  • Substantially improved component lifetime
  • Chemically, not mechanically, bonded
  • Absolutely dense, pore free, corrosion barriers
  • Effective coating of complex geometries and internal bores
  • Low friction; the coated surface is anti-fouling
  • Protection from highly corrosive environments and chemical attack
  • Superior sliding wear resistance and high electrical resistivity
  • Extremely fine grain structure

Your wear and corrosion
challenges ... solved

Bodycote's thermochemically formed ceramic coatings can offer a solution for wear and corrosion problems across a wide range of market sectors and applications, delivering up to 25 times longer lifetime for your components.

Providing hardness of up to 2850 Hv, bond strength in excess of 10,000 PSI and salt spray resistance of over 3,000 hours, Bodycote ceramics outperform other commercially available coatings.

Many coatings from the Bodycote ceramics range are applied with no measurable build up and offer resistance to thermal cycling/shock and low friction, adjustable surface finishes.

Bodycote has also introduced Tech100 Polymer, a liquid dispersion coating based on PEEK™ polymer - one of the highest performing thermoplastics in the world. FDA-approved, Tech100 offers exceptional scratch, wear and corrosion resistance and has outperformed peer coatings in wear and abrasion tests.

How does it work?

The application of Bodycote ceramics is tailored according to the substrate and end use requirement of the component.

Tech10 and Tech12 bond the ceramic with the metal surface by etching and penetrating into the surface grain boundaries, producing a ceramic oxide-to-metal bond which is exceptionally strong.

Some composite ceramics can be thermochemically bonded to specific areas on a part, including outside/inside diameters and some hidden holes and ports. These ceramics develop a bond into the substrate through the formation of a spinel-like interface between the ceramic coating and the metal surface.

In some cases, such as Tech17, the ceramic is used to seal existing coatings such as chrome and tungsten carbide. The ceramic seal is applied by saturating the coated area with a chemical solution at room temperature. These chemicals are then converted into ceramic by a low temperature firing process resulting in a reaction whereby the ceramic chemically bonds to both the coating and the substrate, filling any microporosity and preventing corrosives from attacking the substrate via blistering and undermining of the coating.

Chemically formed ceramic coatings

The Bodycote ceramic coatings range


Open Table in pdf format   Brochure - Chemically formed ceramic coatings

Our quality meets your standards

We never forget that our customers have invested time, money and resources in all the components we process, which is why quality comes as a standard part of our service, ensuring that all our customers' components are treated with care throughout.

Our facilities hold numerous international, national and customer approvals appropriate to the services they offer and the markets they serve.

Our customers can be confident their demands can be met, however stringent, with assured quality, cost-effectiveness and on-time completion every time.

Precision finishing

The precision nature of ceramic coating and any associated thermal spray coating requires accurate measurement, finishing and quality inspection. Together with daily monitoring of coating parameters and metallographic quality this accuracy ensures that our coatings are of the highest integrity.

Our facilities are equipped with precision machining and finishing machines capable of coating removal for repair of worn components, and post-coating finishing to the highest standards.

chemically formed ceramic coatings

Typical Applications


Oil & Gas exploration

Bodycote ceramics are extremely cost effective where expensive downtime is caused by component corrosion and wear. Applications include down-hole tools, mud rotors, pump sleeves, MWD {measurement while drilling) equipment, and various valve components. Internal bore applications such as valve actuators and hydraulic jars, previously chrome plated and now ceramic coated have seen significant life increase. Tech17 (Chrome Seal), for mud rotors, has improved down-hole life by five times.

Aerospace

As one of the first industries to fully adopt thermally sprayed treatments into the design of precision engineered components, aerospace applications have been a focus of Bodycote's thermal spray activities. With over 100 key thermally sprayed applications within aerospace turbine engines, Bodycote can provide surface technology solutions for a range of properties including wear control, corrosion resistance, thermal efficiency and conductiveness to protect against lightning strikes. Without these surface treatments, today's aircraft components would not operate to the required standards.

Pump & chemical

Dramatic results have been achieved for the pump industry, particularly in chemical applications. Pumps exposed to petrochemicals, acids, seawater, chlorides, hydrochlorics and cryogenic temperatures have experienced extended life cycles by factors of up to 100, when tested against unprotected pumps. Reciprocating piston pumps, centrifugal impeller pumps and high pressure injection pumps have benefited from Bodycote ceramic coatings.

Plastics

Pipe extrude rs run PVC pellets through an extruder which transforms the pellets into a molten state. Bodycote ceramics are used to coat the Y-pipe, spider, diffuser, cone and pin components. This has resulted in a significant life increase and a five-fold reduction in cleaning cycles. Chrome plated extruder screws, a key component of the injection moulding process, are treated with Tech17 (Chrome Seal), resulting in a ten times life increase over conventional chrome plate.

Printing

Rolls used within aggressive environments, such as those found in steel, paper and printing industries, suffer severe wear and corrosion problems resulting in high replacement costs, reduced performance, impaired quality and excessive downtime. With the use of high pressure high velocity oxy-fuel (HP/HVOF) thermal spraying techniques, a durable engineered surface, with high micro hardness and excellent wear and corrosion resistant properties, can be applied to the roll face and journals. This coating can be either textured or ground/superfinished, giving the required characteristics which enhances the performance of the roll and extends service life.

Steel

Bodycote ceramics have been successfully used to comlbat tool problems in the zinc die casting, cold forming and hot forging industries. Bodycote ceramics are also resistant to molten zinc and tin, having successfully improved the performance of correcting rolls and zinc pot rolls, used in the manufacture of galvanised steel strip. Significant improvements in life and downtime costs have been achieved. Other applications include guide bars, pump internals, and electric motor bearings.

Textile

Yarn contact components for textile machinery require extreme resistance to wear and corrosion, as well as a very low friction surface to prevent yarn damage. Bodycote ceramic coatings, on thread guides, draw rolls, air jet plates, cooling tracks, Godet rolls and yarn feeders, greatly reduce maintenance and downtime costs. The extremely fine grain structure of Bodycote ceramic produces a very smooth low friction surface (COF 0.21 - 0.26). This combination produces excellent wear properties.

Canning

Can machine manufacturers often specify Bodycote ceramic as a direct replacement for chrome plate. Extreme hardness C2850 Hv) and a low friction surface significantly improve component life and reduce product damage. Typical applications are guides, can turrets and u-bends.

chemically formed ceramic coatings

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Please click here  Brochure - Chemically formed ceramic coatings to view pdf version of this webpage.

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