The DLC coating vacuum deposition production process generally includes three major steps: pre-DLC coating treatment, DLC coating, and post-DLC coating treatment.

Pre-DLC coating treatment is a prerequisite for obtaining a good coating layer. It generally includes steps such as mechanical processing, pickling, and degreasing. DLC coating mechanical processing refers to the use of mechanical methods to remove burrs, oxide layers, and other mechanical impurities from the surface of the plating piece, making the surface smooth and clean. This ensures good adhesion between the DLC coating and the substrate, preventing the occurrence of burrs. The purpose of DLC coating pickling is to remove the oxide layer or other corrosion products from the surface of the plating piece, while the purpose of DLC coating degreasing is to eliminate油脂 from the substrate surface.

After pre-treatment, the DLC-coated piece can proceed to the DLC coating process. During DLC coating, attention must also be paid to the formulation of the DLC coating solution, the selection of current density, and the adjustment of temperature, among other factors. It should be noted that single-salt electrolytes are suitable for coatings with simple shapes and low appearance requirements, whereas complex salt electrolytes have high dispersion capabilities. During DLC coating, the current density and efficiency are low, making it mainly suitable for coatings with more complex surface shapes.

DLC thin film deposition materials for vacuum coating equipment are extensive: They can deposit low-potential metals such as aluminum, titanium, and zirconium, which cannot be deposited by wet film methods. By introducing reactive gases and alloy targets, vacuum coating machines for DLC thin films can even deposit coatings ranging from alloys to ceramics and even diamond. Moreover, the coating system can be designed according to needs. Compared to traditional water electroplating, it offers the following advantages:

DLC thin film vacuum coating equipment saves metal materials: Due to the excellent adhesion, density, hardness, and corrosion resistance of vacuum coatings, the thickness of the deposited coating can be much thinner than that of conventional wet diamond-like carbon (DLC) film coatings, achieving the goal of material conservation. DLC thin film vacuum coating machines cause no environmental pollution: Since all coating materials are deposited on the workpiece surface via plasma in a vacuum environment, there is no solution pollution, making it environmentally harmless.

Traditional water electroplating has been restricted by the state and local governments at various levels due to its environmental pollution and the need to use some highly toxic raw materials. Currently, some enterprises have established centralized wastewater treatment electroplating industrial parks, which have somewhat mitigated the issue of random wastewater discharge. However, wastewater treatment costs are high, energy consumption is high, and it leads to the waste of water resources. Additionally, countries like the EU have strict restrictions on the content of hexavalent chromium and nickel in imported products. The advantages of DLC thin film vacuum coating machines over traditional water electroplating, along with the gradual replacement of traditional water electroplating with vacuum coating technology, enable our traditional water electroplating industry to undergo technological upgrades and transformations. This not only complies with national environmental policies but also meets the requirements for product exports while increasing the added value of exported products.