IBC Coating Technologies, Inc.

Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) or Micro Arc Oxidation is an electrochemical process of oxidation that is performed by creating micro-discharges on the surface of components immersed in an electrolyte. The process is applied to Aluminum, Titanium, and Magnesium to grow a dense, ductile nano-ceramic oxide layer that improves mechanical, wear, thermal, dielectric, and corrosion properties. IBC's PEO process uses a controlled high-voltage alternating current that is applied to a metal part submerged in an electrolytic bath. Due to the high voltage and current, intense plasma is created on the surface of the metal. This plasma oxidizes the surface of the part and grows a nano-structured ceramic oxide layer from the substrate material. The oxide film is produced by subsurface oxidation. As a result, the process can produce very thick coatings of varying porosity. IBC can readily grow coatings up to 250 microns thick, and ongoing research is showing feasibility of coating thicknesses of up to 500 microns.

IBC Coatings Technologies manufactures a wide range of standard and custom locator and welding pins. IBC’s locator pins have been tailored for maximum performance using a combination of high strength materials and state-of-the-art surface treatments. IBC’s locator pins are providing industry leading durability and life making them a preferred choice for automotive OEMs and integrators. IBC specializes in providing high quality custom pins with fast turnaround to meet the demands of the automotive industry. Customers using IBC locator pins have reported over 10x life improvement resulting in lower operating cost and reduced downtime.

The performance of our PVD coatings deposited using our proprietary High Energy PVD process – HI3D™ – is superior to many other commercially available coatings in most demanding heavy-duty applications. IBC's coatings increase the life of large stamping, forging, die-casting, plastics, rubber, extrusion and cutting tools and machinery. Tools and machine parts have far higher wear and corrosion resistance, pick-up, galling and fretting are eliminated, friction and release forces are minimized in tribological pairs. Our coatings provide lubrication-free low friction and high wear resistance for clean room automation machinery in semiconductors manufacturing. IBC's coating systems have high productivity, profitability and reliability of the process and equipment. They provide a wide selection of coatings for numerous applications.

DLC Coating stands for diamond-like carbon coating, and is a nanocomposite coating that has unique properties of natural diamond low friction, high hardness, and high corrosion resistance. DLC coatings can have different structures and properties that rely on the ratio of SP3 (diamond) and SP2 (carbon) or other fillers like hydrogen, silicon, and metal in the layer.

TD Coatings are based on ultra-dense Vanadium Carbide. They have developed a strong reputation in the metal forming and die casting industries for their high hardness and superb performance characteristics. Vanadium Carbide coatings typically have a thickness of 0.0002-0.0003" with a hardness of 3500 to 3800 HV (Vickers Hardness), well above 90 HRC. For comparison, hardened tool steel measures 500-800 HV (55-65Rc), Hard Chrome measures 600-900 HV (60-66Rc), and TiN (Titanium Nitride) is 2200-2500 HV. The high hardness and thickness of the coating provides the capacity to withstand loads developed at forming radii, while the fine nano-structure of the coating increases the shear stress capacity. Due to the low coefficient of friction (less than 0.08), flow of the material is eased and abrasive wear of the tool as well as galling (pick-up) are delayed. The TD Process is used to improve and extend the life of tooling for many industries, including sheet metal, cold forging, aluminum die casting, powdered metal, glass, textile, wire, and many others.