Layer System, Component, and Method for Coating

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The invention is a multi-layer coating system designed to enhance wear protection and reduce friction for metallic components, especially those subject to heavy mechanical stress. The system consists of an underlying hard, nitridic wear-resistant layer (such as chromium nitride) covered by a nanocomposite top layer made from copper and carbon phases, both applied via a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process. This nanocomposite layer is engineered at the nanoscale (features less than 100 nm) to further reduce friction and improve durability. The system is particularly suited for engine-related components such as chains, chain bolts, or gears.

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• Coating for components of internal combustion engines, such as chain elements, chain bolts, valve train parts, and gears.
• Wear-resistant coatings for machine parts exposed to high friction and abrasion.
• Protective coatings for chains and moving linkages in automotive or industrial machinery.
• Enhanced durability coatings for ball bearings, roller bearings, and sliding bearings.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Significantly increases wear resistance of coated components, extending their service life.
• Reduces friction between moving parts, thereby improving overall efficiency and reducing energy losses.
• The nanoscale structure of the composite layer provides optimized tribological (friction- and wear-related) properties.
• Applicability to a variety of metallic substrates using established, scalable PVD techniques.
• Maintains high hardness in the underlying layer while providing a lubricating, friction-reducing top layer.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a layer system (1) comprising at least one wear protection layer (3) and a cover layer arranged on the wear protection layer (3), wherein the wear protection layer (3) is a nitridic hard material, wherein the cover layer is designed as a nanocomposite layer (4), wherein the nanocomposite layer (4) is a multiphase solid body layer, in which at least one phase, called the nanophase, is structured such that it measures less than 100 nm in at least one dimension, wherein a first phase (6, 7) formed from copper and a second phase (5, 8) formed from carbon are contained, and wherein the wear protection layer (3) and the nanocomposite layer (4) are formed by means of a physical vapor deposition method (PVD method). The invention furthermore relates to a component (10, 21, 22), particularly a chain link or chain bolt, comprising a metallic substrate (11) and a layer system (1), arranged at least in part on a surface of the substrate (11), wherein the wear protection layer (3) is arranged between the nanocomposite layer (4) and the substrate (11).