Global Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) Market Expected to CAGR at 6.4% till 2025
A latest research report titled as “Diamond-like
Carbon (DLC) Market
- Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast,
2017-2025” has been recently added to the vast portfolio of Market
Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) online
research offerings. This report is a professional and in-depth analysis on the
present state and future prospect for the global market. It provides valuable
information to the industry insiders, potential entrants or investors. It
includes an exhaustive enquiry with the reliability of logic and the
comprehensiveness of contents.
Diamond-like Carbon or DLC consists of carbon atoms with sp3 bonding.
It has high mechanical hardness, chemical inertness, and optical transparency.
DLC coating has been garnering interest from the industry and research world
since the last two decades. The unique properties of DLC make it a fascinating
and commercially essential coating material for various industrial
applications. Currently, it is used in various industrial applications
including critical engine parts, mechanical face seals, scratch-resistant
glasses, invasive and implantable medical devices, microelectromechanical
systems, razor blades, and magnetic hard discs. Presence of certain elemental
species such as hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, titanium, and fluorine
plays a significant role in the properties of DLC.
The notable tribological properties of DLC depend upon the
micro-structures, amount of hydrogen present, and ratio of sp2 to
sp3 carbon atoms. Ratio of sp2 to sp3 carbon
atoms defines two types of DLC: pure (pure DLC) and mixed (mixed DLC).
Concentration of sp3 carbon atoms is high in pure DLC. A blend
of sp2 and sp3 bonded carbon atoms can be
observed in mixed DLC with random intermixing of cubic and hexagonal lattices.
Deposition methods of DLC include ion beam, sputtering, cathodic arc, pulsed
laser deposition, and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. In most
technologies, ions are used to deposit elements on various material substrates.
Rise in demand for DLC
coating in automotive engine components is projected to drive the global DLC
market. DLC coatings are largely employed in diesel fuel injectors, automotive
tappets, rocker arms, differential gears, valve lifters, wrist pins, and door
hinges. DLC coatings help increase the shelf life of automotive engine
components by decreasing the coefficient of friction. Reduction in friction
lowers the need for lubrication. This improves efficiency in the supply chain,
from raw materials to end-users. The high load bearing properties of DLC coatings
make them an ideal choice for improving the performance of engineered
components. Increase in demand for advanced coatings with high abrasion
resistance acts as a major driver of the global DLC market.
Rise in demand for DLC
coatings in the medical industry owing to the high biocompatibility is also a
key factor boosting the DLC market. Demand for DLC based coatings with
exceptionally hard, low friction, and bio-inert characteristics is high in
biomedical components. DLC coatings possess these properties. They help prevent
leaching of metallic ions to the automotive body parts. DLC is used in
applications in orthopedics, cardiovascular components, guide wires, etc. in
the medical industry owing to its biocompatible nature.
Manufacturers are
focusing on the production of hydrogen-free DLC that can be employed in
automotive and biomedical applications. Superior abrasion and wear resistance
are the key factors driving the demand for hydrogen-free DLC. Hydrogen-free DLC
coatings improve binding with engine oil and result in the formation of a firm
ultra-low friction film when special oil additives are added. Usage of advanced
technologies such as plasma enhanced CVD and pulsed laser deposition is
anticipated to propel the applications of DLCs. Potential applications in the
personal care sector, such as razor blades and skin wrinkling treatments, are
estimated to offer attractive growth opportunities to the global DLC market.
Similarly, electronics sector, with the advancements in MEMS technology, is
expected to act as a potential end-user industry of the DLC market in the near
future.
Emission of Carbon
dioxide is the key factor intensifying the global warming effect. DLC is
typically a coating which is a layer made up of carbon atoms. It may combine
with oxygen and emit carbon dioxide. Regulations on the emission of carbon
dioxide are getting stricter in developed regions such as Europe and North
America. Thus, implementation of stringent regulations on the emission of
carbon dioxide is likely to hamper the global DLC market. Poor adhesion of DLC
coatings onto substrates is also expected to adversely affect the DLC market.
However, advancement in ultrathin layer coating technologies is anticipated to
help the market overcome the challenges mentioned above.
The DLC market in
Europe is dominated by a few large manufacturers such as Oerlikon Group, Morgan
Advanced Materials Plc., Miba AG, and Renishaw Advanced Materials Ltd. These
companies have production bases in the U.K., Germany, Belgium, and Austria.
Constant research activities in automotive, electronics, and medical industries
is likely to create new opportunities for DLC manufacturers. According to the
RoHS guidelines, medical device manufacturers are focusing on moving toward
greener engineering technologies such as DLC coating materials, as these are
biocompatible and can work in a wide range of temperatures. Manufacturers are
striving to obtain competitive advantage in the DLC market by introducing
highly advanced technologies such as plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition
and pulsed laser deposition. Discovery of self-healing DLC, which produces
ultra-thin film with high performance characteristics, is anticipated to
provide an attractive growth platform for the DLC market in the near future.
New product launches, brand promotions, and mergers & acquisitions are also
estimated to boost the demand for DLC market in the near future.
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