Acronym: HardCoat

Surface HARDening and highly wear-resistant nanocomposite COATtings for woodworking tools

Project: COFUND-M-ERANET-3-HardCoat-1, no. 312/2022

Project Period: 27.06.2022-31.12.2024

Financial supported by Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research (CNCS-UEFISCDI) by PN IIII – European and International Cooperation – Horizon 2020

Abstract:

In cutting tools industry, economic considerations play an important role, thus the surface modification technology is to be applied to ensure the required functional properties while using as cheap as possible materials for the bare element. This element, being required to generally, results in lower performance. A wide selection of currently available types of composite coatings and their deposition technology is the result of an increasing demand for modern methods of surface modification and protection for tools, machine parts and other components.
Through this project the development in surface modification of cutting tools used in wood industry as well as the optimization of methodologies for investigation of mechanical, physico-chemical, surface and interfacial properties like wear and corrosion performance of this materials is intended. In order to understand the complex interactions in the interface between substrate and coatings as well as the functional surface, the use of state-of-the-art equipment for extensive in-situ studies is necessary. General statements on increasing the service life and efficiency in use require the development of realistic test conditions for the novel materials. The complex requirements for screening tests for validation purposes enable information of the highest quality, which directly benefits the regional, European and global sector of wood device technology. One particular aim is to test the prepared prototypes in industrially operational environment (TRL6) – tasks which will be performed by the industrial partner in woodworking industry.

Partners:

Coordinator (P1): Chemnitz University of Technology, Materials and Surface Engineering Group (MSE) Dr.Ing.Thomas LINDNER

Partner 2: National Institute of RD for Optoelectronics (INOE), Dr.eng.Alina VLADESCU

Partner 3: Palacky University Olomouc (PU), Ph.D.Mgr. Radim Ctvrtlik

Partner 4: DRUGON International SRL, Dr. Eng. Diana Maria Vranceanu

Work plan:

WP1: Testing of the cutting tools used in wood industry coated by thin films by consotium partners (monolayer structures)

WP2: Testing of the cutting tools used in wood industry coated by thin films by consotium partners (multilayer structures)

WP3: Testing of the cutting tools used in wood industry coated by thin films by consotium partners (gradient structures)

Results:

2024

During the 2023, the following results were obtained:

• 1 scientific raport;
• 3 prototypes – cutting tools tested in production line – see below some photos;
• 1 patent application: Multilayered coatings for protecting of cutting tools subjected to server wear conditions in woodworking tools, nr. A/00646/30.10.2024, authors: A.Dragomir, C.Vitelaru, M.Dinu, I.Pana, A.C. Parau, L.R.Constantin, Diana M.Vranceanu, performed in collaboration with INOE2000;
• 3 consortium meetings organized in 6 June 2024; 29 march 2024; 25 october 2024 and others online meetings;
• WEB page of project;
• 1 scientific paper submited to ISI journal in colaboration with INOE;
• 5 awards at Invention Exihbitions (3 GOLD medals, 1 SILVER medals and 1 Special Award) – see below some photos;
• 1 paper presented at Invention Exihbitions (EuroInvent, Traian Vuia, ICAN);
• 5 paper presented at International Conferences in collaboration with INOE.

All the dissemination activities were perfomed by DRUGON’s own budget (co-financing expenses). In the following, there are presented some images from several participations and the awards.

During the 2024, it was submited two proposals at national calls:

• PTE 2024 call: Acoperiri Ultradure a Reperelor Supuse la Uzura Intens – PN-IV-P7-7.1-PTE-2024-0440; parteneri Drugon International SRL & INOE.
• PED 2024 call: Acoperiri decorative si antibacteriene pentru manerele usilor din zonele publice – PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-0888, parteneri Drugon International SRL & INOE.

Published results:

Structural, mechanical, wear and anticorrosive properties of CrSiCN coatings used for industrial woodworking applications, I. Pana, A.C. Parau, M. Dinu, C. Vitelaru, D.M. Vranceanu, T. Lindner, A. Vladescu (Dragomir), Heliyon, 10 (2024) 1-15, doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29496

Results of service life of a coated tool by CrSiCN C50N50 in comparison with an uncoated tool (aggressive planing = 5 mm/one pass; easy planing = 2.5 mm/one pass).

Type of wood	Type of process	Quantity Uncoated tools	Quantity Coated tools
Laminated MDF (3 layers of MDF with adhesive)	cut	1798.5 linear meters	3997.5 linear meters
MDF + adhesive + Beech	cut	2324.2 linear meters	4920.8 linear meters
MDF without adhesive (18 mm thickness)	cut	4846.9 linear meters	13681.1 linear meters
MDF without adhesive (12 mm thickness)	cut	2281.6 linear meters	6403.4 linear meters
Beech (50 mm thickness)	cut	671.3 linear meters	1212.7 linear meters
Beech (26 mm thickness)	cut	2402.7 linear meters	4767.3 linear meters
Pal melamine (18 mm thickness)	cut	1830.4 linear meters	4538.6 linear meters
Sprunce (50 mm thickness)	aggressive planing	77.4 m2	122.6 m2
Pine (26 thickness)	easy planing	68.1 m2	136.9 m2
Ash (26 mm thickness)	easy planing	22.0 m2	50.8 m2
Ash (50 mm thickness)	aggressive planing	5.2 m2	8.0 m2
Beech (50 mm thickness)	aggressive planing	178.1 m2	276.3 m2

One may see that the improved time depends on the type and thickness of wood as wells as on the type of planing (aggressive or easy). For example, the uncoated tools cut of 671.3 linear meters of beech (50 mm thickness). By coating the tools edges, 1212.7 linear meters were cut, meaning an increase of 44.6 %.

2023

During the 2023, the following results were obtained:

• 1 scientific raport;
• 5 prototypes – cutting tools tested in production line – see below some photos;
• 1 patent application: Multilayered coatings for protecting of cutting tools which work in server wear regimes used in woodworking tools, nr. A/00093/28.02.2023, authors: A.Dragomir, A.C. Parau, M.Dinu, L.R.Constantin, D.M. Vranceanu, C.Vitelaru, performed in collaboration with INOE2000;
• 2 consortium meetings organized in 15 march 2023; 25 october 2023 and others online meetings;
• WEB page of project;
• 1 scientific paper submited to ISI journal in colaboration with INOE;
• 13 awards at Invention Exihbitions (5 GOLD medals, 3 SILVER medals and 5 Special Awarda/Diploma of Excellence) – see below some photos;
• 3 papers presented at Invention Exihbitions (EuroInvent, Traian Vuia, Inova, ICAN, Intarg si InventCor);
• 1 paper presented at EMRS Spring Meeting 2023 Conference in collaboration with INOE.

All the dissemination activities were perfomed by DRUGON’s own budget (co-financing expenses). In the following, there are presented some images from several participations and the awards.

EUROINVENT 15^th European Exhibition of Creativity and Innovation, 11-13 May 2023, Iasi, Romania

International INVENTCOR Salon, IV edition,14-16 September 2023, Deva, Romania

9^th Edition of International Exhibition of Patents and Innovation “Traian Vuia” 15-18 June 2023, Timisoara, Romania

8^th International Invention Innovation Competition in Canada, iCAN 2023, 25 August 2023, Toronto, Canada – online

47^th International Inventiona Show – INOVA, 26-29 septembrie 2023, Zagreb, Croatia

In the following, there presented some images of tools after testing.

2022

• 1 scientific report;
• 7 prototypes – cutting tools;
• 1 patent application: Monostraturi subţiri nanostructurate rezistente la uzare pe bază de carbo-nitruri ale metalelor de tranziţie cu adaosuri de siliciu, nr. A/00605/03.10.2022 (in collaboration with INOE2000);
• 1 consotium meeting organized in 14-15 october 2022;
• WEB page of project;
• 3 awards at Invention Exihbitions (1 GOLD medal, 1 SILVER and 1 Special Award);
• 3 papres presented at Invention Exihbitions: PRO-INVENT, INOVA, InventCor:
  • Nanostructured thin films based on carbo-nitrides if transition metals with silicon additions resistant to wear, S.Dragomir, A.C.Parau, D.M.Vranceanu, L.R. Constantin, C. P.Dragomir, A.Vladescu, Salonul Internațional al Cercetării Științifice, Inovării și Inventicii PRO INVENT, ediția a XX-a,Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 26-28 October 2022 – a fost premiata cu Gold Medal
  • Surface HARDening and highly wear-resistant nanocomposite COATtings for woodworking tools, A.Vladescu, L.R. Constantin, A.C.Parau, D.M.Vranceanu, S. Dragomir, 46th INOVA  INTERNATIONAL INVENTION SHOW, OSIJEK, CROATIA,  October – – a fost premiata cu Silver MEDAL and Special Prize (engineering/materials science)
  • Surface HARDening and highly wear-resistant nanocomposite COATtings for woodworking tools, S.Dragomir, D.M.Vranceanu, C.P.Dragomir, 3rd International Exhibition InventCOR, 15-17 decembrie 2022, Deva, Romania, online

Contact us: Tractorului street, no.2, Cumpana, Jus. Constanta; [email protected]