(Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Developmnet)--An innovation on the technology of coating industrial tools developed by Dr. Henry J. Ramos, scientist and professor at the National Institute of Physics of the University of the Philippines Diliman, has been awarded a patent by the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office on March 16, 2007.
The patented innovation, entitled entitled “Titanium Nitride Thin Film Formation on Metal Substrate by Chemical Vapor Deposition in A Magnetized Sheet Plasma Source,” is a special way of producing a more economical and effective coating for industrial tools made of metals and alloy.
The innovation introduces titanium nitride (TiN) coating, produced by locally manufactured magnetized sheet plasma source, as an alternative to most of the coating technology today such as the commonly-used carbide coating.
Carbide coating is necessary to industries since it improves the quality and extends the lifetime of tools used in industrial processes such as cutting, engraving and milling. However, this technology is not available in the Philippines, thus resulting in costly investments for coated tools.
The patented innovation uses plasma, which is TiN coating presently used in hardening cutting tools. Ramos has developed the process technology called Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) to derive the TiN. By using the Sheet Plasma Negative Ion Source, the components required for the formation of TiN are separated from the composition of plasma. Nitrogen gas is then added as a reactive gas which creates a chemical reaction, thus producing the TiN coating. This process is done in a short span of time and without having to heat the tool to be coated, which is usually necessary in the coating process.
TiN coating has many desireable characteristics, giving it an edge over other coating technology. TiN increases the surface hardness of tools, protecting them from abrasion and the damaging effects of friction during the industrial process. In addition to its non-stick property, it has an aesthetically pleasing yellow color, the ability to maintain the sharpness of tools and provides tools with increased durability, resistance to wear and corrosion, thus prolonging the tools’ lifetime while creating better finishes.
Ramos initially tested the technology on cutting tools, extrusion dies, and punchers and dies. According to Ramos, other potential applications include use in “…aerospace components, automotive parts, broaches, decorative accessories, dental instruments, door hardware, eyeglass frames, firearms components, food processing equipment, hobs, jewelry, marine hardware, medical devices, pharmaceutical equipment, plastic molds, plumbing fixtures, precision, gears, sporting goods, surgical implants and writing instruments.”
Patent applications for the TiN coating technology have also been filed in Singapore, Japan, People’s Republic of China, United States and Europe.
--MMRParreño