At TS-VTI, DLC coating services are backed by the global expertise of the HEF Group and the full Certess Carbon family of DLC chemistries. Whether the requirement is a general-purpose hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) film for an automotive powertrain component or a tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) film for the most extreme tribological duty, our coating engineers select the right chemistry, underlayer, and thickness for your parts. Send us your components, and we return them coated to your specification.
DLC coatings fall into two broad categories based on how they are formulated. Hydrogenated amorphous carbon coatings, written as a-C:H, are the workhorse films for the majority of industrial applications. They deliver hardness in the 2,000 to 3,200 Vickers range with dry friction coefficients around 0.11 to 0.15, and they can be tuned with different underlayers to match specific load and adhesion requirements. Tetrahedral amorphous carbon coatings, or ta-C, are the premium option for the most severe tribological duty, reaching hardness values up to 7,000 Vickers with friction coefficients below 0.1.
Between these two families, the Certess Carbon lineup gives our engineers real flexibility. Certess Carbon DC and DDT deliver a-C:H films for general-purpose wear reduction on automotive, hydraulic, and pump components. Certess Carbon DCX and DCY use chromium and tungsten-carbide underlayers for enhanced load-bearing on high-stress components like piston pins, gears, and reciprocating parts. Certess Carbon TC is the ta-C option for severe wear conditions and precision cutting tool applications. The right coating for your application depends on the contact conditions, counterface material, operating environment, and substrate, and that is where our coating engineers add value on every project.
Because DLC deposits between 150 and 350 degrees C, it works on tempered tool steels, hardened bearing steels, medical-grade stainless, and other temperature-sensitive materials without causing distortion or loss of core hardness. Film thickness typically runs 1 to 5 microns, thin enough to preserve precision tolerances but thick enough to deliver real wear resistance across the service life of the part.
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DLC coating services support components across a wide range of industries that TS-VTI serves. From high-cycle automotive powertrain parts to precision medical instruments, DLC extends service life, reduces friction losses, and lets designers push their components harder without redesigning around new failure modes.
• Automotive Powertrain Components
• Piston Pins, Rocker Arms, and Valve Tappets
• Hydraulic and Pneumatic Valves, Stems, and Seals
• Compressor Vanes, Impellers, and Swash Plates
• Industrial Gears, Bearings, and Mechanical Seals
• Surgical Instruments and Dental Tools
• Bone Screws and Prosthetic Bearing Surfaces
• Precision Cutting Tools and Inserts
• Plastic Injection Molding Dies
• Aerospace and Defense Precision Assemblies
Every DLC batch that leaves TS-VTI moves through the same quality system that supports our aerospace, defense, and medical customers. We inspect parts at arrival, maintain process control throughout the coating cycle, and perform a final inspection before shipping. Coating adhesion, thickness, and appearance are verified against customer specifications on every job, and witness coupons can be included in every batch and retained for as long as your quality system requires.
TS-VTI operates under ISO 9001:2015, holds ITAR registration, complies with RoHS and AMS 2424A, and maintains a Federal Firearm License. Combined with the process control of the HEF Group across its worldwide operations, DLC coating services from TS-VTI deliver the documentation, repeatability, and traceability that regulated industries require. Quality is not a checkbox at the end of the process. It is built into every step, from part receiving through final shipment.
