PVD COATINGS FOR TEXTILE MACHINE COMPONENTS

In the past, the development of physical vapour deposition (PVD) coati ngs has been concentrated on the area of cutting materials for the met al machining industry. These coatings have not yet been applied in the textile industry, where oxide ceramic materials are predominantly use d for thread-contacting machine elements. In comparison with conventio nal materials for thread-contacting machine elements, the PVD coating has considerable advantages. Thus, investigations have shown that PVD- coated surfaces can be better adapted to the processes than can conven tional materials. At the moment, coating abrasion or coating failure a re hurdles which still have to be overcome before PVD coatings can be used in textile engineering on a broad basis. The service life potenti al of the bard material coating is not exhausted. Further investigatio ns have to be conducted in this area.