Fraunhofer Institute for Electron Beam
and Plasma Technology FEP
Fraunhofer Institute for Electron Beam
and Plasma Technology FEP

3D coating

We coat three-dimensional objects made of metal, ceramic, glass or plastic to improve their function and service life by customizing their surface properties. With the help of vacuum coating technologies such as sputtering technology, plasma-activated high-rate vapour deposition and high-rate PECVD, we increase the corrosion, scratch or wear resistance of tools and components. Decorative or sophisticated optical properties as well as biofunctionality and compatibility can also be achieved by applying suitable coatings and multilayer coating systems.

Using physical and material science characterization processes as well as compatibility tests in our biomedical laboratory unit, we can directly test the effect of the coatings and thus show our customers comprehensive solutions for the refinement of components. Our services range from feasibility studies and small series coating to the transfer of the technology into production on the basis of high-performance components developed at the Fraunhofer FEP.

Our offer

Fraunhofer FEP offers comprehensive expertise in process and technology development for coating technologies and layer systems according to your application along the entire value chain:

  • Feasibility studies
  • Development of the coating technology and coating system for your product
  • Sample coatings
  • Development of key assemblies
  • Technology transfer to production
  • Support with system realization for our customers
  • Licensing

This development work is supplemented and supported by

  • Acquisition and coordination of projects subsidized by the state, the federal government and the European Union
  • Economic feasibility studies
  • Studies on the state of the art, e.g. literature and patent research

Technologies

Pulse magnetron sputtering

We use the following technologies to realize customized coatings and applications for our customers:

  • Reactive pulse magnetron sputtering
  • Plasma-activated high-rate evaporation (thermal evaporation), non-reactive and reactive
  • High rate PECVD
  • Plasma pre-treatment with hollow cathode plasma source (etching, activation)
  • Thermal treatment in a vacuum or in a reactive gas atmosphere
  • Electron beam micromachining and surface modification

We also offer chemical-physical characterization and biological efficacy tests.

Applications

Environmentally friendly corrosion protection on rivet connectors for lightweight and mixed construction
  • Wear protection coatings on tools
  • Coatings on implants to reduce biocorrosion and abrasion
  • Anti-corrosion coatings on small parts (bulk material)
  • Coatings of high-strength joining elements for lightweight and mixed automotive components with a high-performance corrosion protection layer
  • Anatase titanium dioxide coatings (TiO2) to improve the biocompatibility of medical implants and instruments
  •  Photocatalytic titanium dioxide coating (TiO2) of medical devices and medical products
  •  Coating for shielding electromagnetic fields and electrical insulation layers to improve functionality (e.g. pacemakers)
  • Optical multilayer coating systems on 3D bodies
  • Sterilization or disinfection using low-energy electrons, gas plasmas and UVC rays
  • Sterilization of sensitive products from the following product classes: Plastics, thermolabile materials, organic materials and fabrics with/without multilayer coatings, ceramics, textiles, hydrogels and electronic components - also in packaged condition
  • Grafting and crosslinking of surface (molecules) of polymers and biological materials against in vivo degeneration
  • Adjustment of the specific wetting behaviour towards biological media

Our facilities

 

ALMA 1000

Test system for coating bulk goods using plasma-activated high-rate evaporation

to the plant
 

VERSA

Vacuum coating system with high-performance electron beam equipment (300 kW) for plasma-activated vapor deposition under scalable conditions

 

 

 

to the plant
 

ERICA

Cluster system for complex coating and structuring processes in a vacuum

to the plant
 

NOVELLA

Test facility for coating components

Combination processes of plasma-activated high-rate evaporation, magnetron sputtering and PECVD

to the plant
 

UNIVERSA

Batch system for coating 3D substrates

 

to the plant
 

REAMODE

Test facility for the modification of organic materials with accelerated electrons

to the plant

Information material