DLC coating vs a penny

Diamond-like-carbon (DLC) coatings stand out as a particularly distinctive category. These coatings exhibit a desirable combination of a low coefficient of friction and high micro-hardness, making them extremely effective in many tribological and wear applications.

DLC coatings are formed when ionized and decomposed carbon or hydrocarbon species land on the surface of a substrate with energy typically 10-300eV. DLC films may possess exceptional mechanical (high hardness), optical (high optical band gap), electrical (high electrical resistivity), chemical (inert) and tribological (low friction and wear coefficient) properties and can be deposited at low substrate temperature (<200°C).

DLC films are generally amorphous (i.e have no dominant crystalline lattice structure) and consist of a mixture of sp2 (graphite) & sp3 (diamond) phases. Control of film properties is strongly dependent on the flux characteristics of the chosen deposition technique (PVD sputter or evaporation and Pa-CVD), metal and hydrogen content within the film, sp2:sp3 ratio, substrate bias voltage, ion energy and ion density as well as substrate temperature. DLC film friction coefficient against steel generally ranges from 0.05-0.20, whilst film hardness and sp3 content can be tailored for specific applications. Metal and hydrogen containing DLC (Me-DLC or a-C:H:Me) exhibit hardness in the range 500-2000HV with 35% sp3, metal free DLC (C-DLC or a-C:H) typically 1500-4000HV and up to 75% sp3 , whilst tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) can be 4000-9000HV with 80-85% sp3.

(Source: Richter Precision Inc.)
 
sticktodrum said:
I've cut an aluminum can with a DLC blade. I thought it was scratched, but after a week the aluminum scrapings were gone (rubbed off by other materials like cardboard and wood), the coating was still intact.
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This happened to me a few months ago, cut an aluminum can, thought the "scratches" were in the DLC, but it was actually aluminum on the blade.

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TX180SX said:
This happened to me a few months ago, cut an aluminum can, thought the "scratches" were in the DLC, but it was actually aluminum on the blade.

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I have cut aluminum, steel, other metals and intentionally used metal tools to prove how hard DLC is. I used screw drivers to scratch blades. The result? Gray lines, but after a soap and water treatment, the lines are gone and the DLC is looking like new.

Tough as nails and I doubt a penny is tougher than lets say, the edge of a hardened tool. By far the best coating out there for production blades.
 
Just out of curiosity, are these claimed DLC coatings on various knives (Spyderco, ZT, BM etc) is actually Diamond-like Carbon? I recall reading that it's some tungsten compound instead. If it really is DLC, there's pretty much nothing in the world that can scratch it, except well.. diamond. Unless the amount of sp2 hybridised carbon atoms is rather high.
 
JSMcustoms said:
Try a product called Never Dull (its a metal polish that comes on a wool batting in a silver can) and a mircofiber cloth. This stuff takes most of the 'marks' right off the DLC coating on my ZT 0350. The photos of the blade are after using it to process a good bit of cardboard to a manageable size and prying (yes I said prying) open a couple of stuck window screens.


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Looks like good tinder!
 
A bit off-topic, but maybe somewhat related... How does a DLC coated blade fare on firesteel? Is there enough bite on the coated blade to generate a spark? Does it mess up the coating (if I recall, the sparks are supposed to be 5000+ degrees F)?
 
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