Dry lubricating DLC coatings for components, tools, and machine parts

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Reduce friction and wear without oil and grease. Danish Technological Institute's DLC coatings provide lower friction, longer service life, and cleaner operation - even in environments where traditional lubricants fail.

A dry lubricating coating is a thin surface coating that reduces friction between moving parts. In many cases, this is achieved without the use of oil or grease. Danish Technological Institute specializes in DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coatings, which combine low friction with high hardness and wear protection. This makes them well-suited for machine parts, tooling components, and parts where lubricants either cannot be used, risk contaminating the product, or simply fail to provide adequate protection. They can also often be used in applications where there is a desire to substitute, for example, PFAS-containing lubricants. Our tribology specialists assist in selecting the right coating solution and ensuring that it performs effectively in your specific application.

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How can Danish Technological Institute help you?

Our tribology specialists provide consultancy on and application of dry lubricating coatings for a wide range of industrial applications:

DLC coating of components and tools: low-friction coatings for sliding and rotating machine parts and tooling components
Consultancy on coating selection: assessment of whether DLC-TR, DLC-Si, or IBAD-DLC is best suited for your application
Coatings for lubricant-free operation: solutions for molding tools, ejector pins, and cores required to operate without oil or grease
Coatings for aqueous environments: galling protection for components operating in water or other poorly lubricated conditions
Coatings for vacuum and space applications: proven DLC solutions for environments where traditional lubricants evaporate
Tribological consultancy and testing: evaluation of friction and wear issues, as well as friction and wear measurement
Combining coatings and lubrication: optimization of systems where DLC supplements traditional lubrication

When oil and grease are not an option

Many friction and wear problems occur precisely where traditional lubrication is difficult or undesirable. This may be due to technical limitations - such as in a vacuum, where oil evaporates, or in aqueous environments, where the low viscosity of water fails to protect against galling between metal surfaces.

If maintaining sufficient conventional lubrication is not possible (e.g., due to low speeds, vibration, or reciprocating motion), a DLC coating can provide lubrication when oil or grease lubrication breaks down.

In other cases, the lubricant itself is the problem. Moving parts in production equipment can deposit oil or grease onto workpieces, which is unacceptable in food, medical, and decorative applications. In these instances, a dry lubricating DLC coating can reduce friction and protect against wear - completely without conventional lubrication.

Typical situations where dry lubricating coatings are relevant:

Moving tool and machine parts in sliding or rotating contact
Components in wet environments (e.g., water, methanol, or food products) where metal-on-metal contact would otherwise gall
Mechanical parts in vacuum, space, or other environments where oil evaporates or contaminates
Applications with requirements for contamination-free operation (food, medical, decorative surfaces)
Systems where lower friction, reduced wear, and extended service life are critical
Situations where there is a desire to substitute, for example, PFAS-containing lubricants or surfaces

DLC coatings: low friction and high wear resistance in a single surface

DLC stands for Diamond-Like Carbon and denotes a hard, smooth carbon coating that significantly reduces friction while protecting against wear. DLC coatings possess properties that combine those of both diamond and graphite - they are hard and wear-resistant, yet function simultaneously as a dry lubricating surface in tribological systems.

DLC product sheet

1,1 MB pdf

Danish Technological Institute offers several DLC variants with different properties:

DLC-TR and DLC-Si - for moving parts and lubricant-free operation

DLC-TR and DLC-Si are low-friction coatings for machine elements and tooling parts subjected to sliding or rotating motion. DLC-TR is an excellent standard choice for most applications, whereas DLC-Si can offer advantages when higher hardness or improved thermal stability is required.

A typical field of application is moving cores and ejector pins in injection molds, which normally require lubrication to prevent galling. This lubrication can deposit oil onto finished parts - an issue solved by applying DLC-TR or DLC-Si instead of using conventional lubricants. These coatings can also be used in wet environments where the surrounding medium alone does not provide sufficient lubrication, and where DLC on at least one of the sliding counter-faces can prevent galling.

IBAD-DLC – for demanding tooling applications

IBAD-DLC combines ion beam implantation and deposition into a single process, yielding exceptional adhesion between the coating and substrate. This makes IBAD-DLC particularly suitable for hardened steel tools, such as for sheet metal forming with minimal or no lubrication. Because the coating allows lubricants to be reduced or eliminated entirely, IBAD-DLC not only reduces friction and wear, but also simplifies the overall manufacturing process.

Dry lubricating coatings for vacuum and space applications

In vacuum environments, conventional oils evaporate rapidly and lose their functionality. This applies both to industrial vacuum systems and specialized applications within aerospace and advanced instrumentation. DLC-based coatings provide stable friction and wear protection without the challenges associated with liquid lubricants or many other solid lubricants such as MoS₂ or WS₂.

Danish Technological Institute’s tribology specialists have developed a specialized DLC coating proven for components in vacuum conditions. This makes it possible to deliver solutions for applications where demands on cleanliness, stability, and tribological performance are exceptionally high - such as components and moving parts intended for space applications.

Scientific article about DLC coating for vacuum applications

Why companies choose solid lubricant coatings from Danish Technological Institute

With the right dry lubricating coating, both performance and operational reliability can be improved in systems involving sliding or rotating contact. Typical benefits include:

Lower friction and minimal risk of galling
Better wear protection and longer service life for components and tools
Lubricant-free or near-lubricant-free operation, simplifying production and maintenance
Cleaner processes and reduced risk of workpiece contamination
Robust functionality in non-lubricating/poorly lubricated environments, vacuum, and other demanding operating conditions
Flexibility - coatings can be combined with traditional lubrication where it delivers the highest value

Danish Technological Institute works with dry lubricating coatings across a wide range of industries, including production equipment, tooling, mechanical components, food and medical equipment, as well as specialized solutions for vacuum and space. As part of Danish Technological Institute, we can not only apply the coatings, but also assist with evaluating material selection, addressing friction and wear challenges, and providing documentation and testing for the chosen solution.
Learn about our tribology work

Get assistance with the right dry lubricating solution

Are you experiencing challenges with friction, wear, or galling in components or tools where oil or grease is not an optimal solution? Danish Technological Institute’s tribology specialists can help evaluate whether DLC-TR, DLC-Si, or IBAD-DLC is the right choice - and how a dry lubricating coating can improve functionality, service life, and operational reliability in your specific application.

FAQ

What is a dry lubricating coating?

A dry lubricating coating is a thin surface coating that reduces friction between moving parts without the use of liquid lubricants such as oil or grease. Danish Technological Institute primarily utilizes DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coatings, which combine low friction with high hardness and wear protection.

What is a DLC coating?

DLC stands for Diamond-Like Carbon and is a hard, smooth carbon surface coating that significantly reduces friction and protects against wear. DLC coatings combine the properties of both diamond and graphite and are applied to components, tools, and machine parts requiring dry or near-lubricant-free operation.

When is a dry lubricating coating better than oil or grease?

Dry lubricating coatings are relevant whenever traditional lubrication is difficult or undesirable - such as in vacuum environments, aqueous conditions, food and medical applications, or production equipment where oil can contaminate the workpieces.

What is the difference between DLC-TR, DLC-Si, and IBAD-DLC?

DLC-TR is a low-friction coating suitable for most sliding and rotating applications. DLC-Si provides higher hardness and superior thermal stability. IBAD-DLC combines ion implantation with coating deposition, providing exceptionally high adhesion on hardened steel tools.

Can DLC coatings be used in vacuum and space applications?

Yes. Danish Technological Institute has developed a DLC coating proven for components operating in vacuum environments. DLC coatings provide stable friction and wear protection without the risk of lubricant evaporation - a critical requirement in vacuum systems and aerospace.

Can DLC coatings be used together with traditional lubrication?

Yes. DLC coatings can both replace and supplement traditional lubrication. When combined with oil or grease, the coating can enhance lubrication under conditions where surface asperities penetrate the lubricating film.

Which industries use dry lubricating coatings?

Dry lubricating DLC coatings are utilized across a wide variety of industries, including mechanical engineering, toolmaking, food processing, medical devices, defense, aerospace, and other applications with stringent demands regarding friction, wear, cleanliness, and component lifetime.