A Manchester-based electroplating specialist has entered into an agreement with a Finnish nanodiamond manufacturer to create an unprecedented coating material.
BEP Surface Technologies, located in Radcliffe, has partnered with Carbodeon from Helsinki to develop a groundbreaking copper-nanodiamond composite coating. Nanodiamonds, minute particles of diamond, uniquely improve thermal conductivity and wear resistance when combined with metal coatings. This technological advancement holds the potential to significantly enhance components within numerous industries.
The partnership, formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MOU), leverages BEP’s expertise in metal coatings alongside Carbodeon’s leading position in nanodiamond additive manufacturing. This agreement grants BEP the rights to develop and produce nanodiamond-infused copper, offering remarkable improvements in thermal conductivity and wear resistance. Additionally, BEP will hold exclusive UK rights to process nanodiamond-infused electroless nickel, enhancing wear and corrosion resistance.
Carbodeon’s uDiamond electroless nickel composite coating is known for extending the service life of components employed in demanding sectors such as on-shore oil and gas production, polymer processing, board cutting, agriculture, and textile manufacturing. The collaboration aims to support several of Carbodeon’s established development programmes, concurrently enhancing BEP’s market offerings. Research and development efforts will be spearheaded by BEP’s innovation arm, BEP Solutions, established to form strategic alliances across government, industry, and academia.
Andrew McClusky, Managing Director of BEP Surface Technologies, highlighted the significance of this alliance by stating, “This new relationship is further evidence of BEP’s commitment to leveraging half a century of engineering know-how, leading-edge digital techniques, and a research and development mindset to find innovative solutions to metal surface engineering challenges.”
Founded in 2006, Carbodeon specialises in producing chemically modified nanodiamonds that enhance product durability and heat dissipation, crucial for electronics manufacturing. The company’s patented products find applications in metal plating, thermoset and thermoplastic-based polymer thermal compounds, chemical vapour deposition (CVD) seeding, chemical mechanical polishing (CMP), and more. Dr Vesa Myllymäki, CEO of Carbodeon, expressed optimism about the agreement, remarking, “We are confident we are on the cusp of creating something unique with transformative capabilities.”
This collaboration signifies a major advancement in coating technology, with potential benefits across numerous industries through enhanced thermal conductivity, wear, and corrosion resistance.