Surface engineering combines methods for directional changes of physical and chemical properties of the material surface layers by deformation, modification, deposition of films, coatings, protective layers using various combined methods
New materials are composite materials such as carbon fiber reinforced plastic, glass-fiber reinforced plastic, basalt fiber reinforced polymers, aramid plastic and metal composites, high-tech ceramics – aluminum, zirconia, oxide, nitride, carbide ceramics and others, new construction materials – new insulating materials from foam glass, modifying agents of roadway surfacing based on rubber powder or polymer fibers, new concrete types. The application range of new materials is the widest – space and aircraft industry, construction engineering, medicine, protection and safety
The technology implies changing the shape and dimensions of billets due to the effect of applied forces with a subsequent result saving. The shape and dimensions of the product do not change after the pressure loss. In order to increase the plasticity, metal is heated to the specific temperature before the beginning of the treatment. The temperature is determined individually for each type of the material depending on its specific physical and chemical characteristics
Depending on the requirements made to operational characteristics of parts, there are three types of coatings
protective coatings for protecting the parts from corrosion in various aggressive environments, as well as at high temperatures;
protective and decorative coatings for the decoration of parts with simultaneous protection from corrosion
special coatings applied to confer special properties for the surface (wear-resistance, hardness, electrically insulating, magnetic properties and others) as well as for the recovery of worn parts
Casting production is a field of mechanical engineering which deals with formed parts and billets by pouring the molten metal into the moulds where their cavity have the configuration of required parts
In the casting process, metal solidifies in the mould during the cooling process obtaining a casting mold – a finished part or a billet which can be mechanically treated if it is necessary (increase of the dimension accuracy and roughness reduction). In this respect, the casting production has the task to obtain casting moulds where the dimensions and the shape are as close as possible to the dimensions and the shape of the finished part. From 50% to 95% of all parts in machines and industrial equipment are manufactured by casting into moulds
Department of Thin Films and Coatings has been established at the beginning of 2020 including two laboratories
Laboratory of nanomaterials and ion-plasma processes
Laboratory of vacuum-plasma coatings
The major activity of the department is research and development of new types of thin films and coatings obtained by methods of cathode-arc evaporation and magnetron spattering
The activities of the department are the following
conduct research in the field of thin-film materials science
research of ion-plasma processes of the deposition thin films and coatings in vacuum by physical methods
development of industrial technologies for depositing hardening, wear-resistant, antifriction, antireflection coatings, biocompatible and bacteriostatic coatings for mechanical engineering, metal- and woodworking tools, IR optics products, medical equipment and other industrial fields
creation of vacuum machines and vacuum devices for implementation of new technologies of coating deposition
