DLC Treatment on the Tripod

We have already stressed out how crucial the choice of finishing with colour is, when it comes to vaping devices. The impact of e-liquids raises the bar, requiring higher standards for the chosen treatment, while the need for conductivity makes masking a key step of the total procedure.

DLC Treatment on the Tripod

Although the choice of electroplating could have been equally effective with the Tripod as it has been with the DotShell, when we got the second DLC samples in our hands we knew it had to be DLC. A bit trickier to implement and quite more expensive compared to electroplating, still Diamond-Like Carbon remains the optimal treatment choice by all means. An environmentally friendly, extremely durable, uniform and high quality finish which you can’t go wrong with, especially when combined with sand blasting for the preparation of the surface to be treated.
Diamond-Like Carbon treatment offers a unique combination of high hardness and distinctive, solid finish. DLC does exactly what its name implies, as the treatment procedure uses energy to combine wanted properties of both elements, diamond and graphite. For example, it can be very hard like diamond but also have very low friction and dark color like graphite. During the process, these properties are dialed in by changing process conditions and energy to change the material’s bonding. Like both graphite and diamond, DLC is made of carbon, but it has a combination of sp2 (graphite typical) and sp3 (diamond typical) bonds. As sp3 bonding increases through the process, the layer becomes harder and more like diamond, or “diamond-like”. This hard layer is applied through either a physical or plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process, referred to as PVD and PE-CVD respectively. During this process, molecules of various materials are vaporized and returned to a solid in a thin layer on the surface of what is being “coated”. Unlike typical color coatings where paint is applied (electrostatic paint, cerakote etc.), DLC layer is only microns thick, plus it is applied via the aforementioned deposition methods. This makes its particles to adhere as one solid uniform layer to the metal surface beneath, rather than sprayed and also ensures by default that it cannot chip off. Destructive failure of DLC layer means scratches, but never flakes which will chip off the treated surfaces. Due to its properties it is widely used, from functional high-hardness applications (outer surface hardening of tools and higher wear resistance on parts) to decorative lower-hardness but still high-quality applications (durable finishes on watches, jewellery, gadgets etc.).

Tripod parts are DLC-processed using racks. This means they are hung on a metallic fixture which is conductive and acts both as a hanger for mass-treatment but also as a medium to supply current to the parts, essential energy for the deposition procedure. Need for conductivity requires that the parts to be treated should be in touch with the rack wires at certain points. This causes a couple of small marks at specific points of each part, that are inevitable, exactly in the same way that the electroplating process does. These points are strategically chosen and are either not visible with bare eyes or located on inner surfaces, covered by gaskets and overall not visible when the device is assembled.

The use of electric current in DLC procedure brings along another small con of all similar electric-related procedures (PVD, electroplating and anodising) which is the appearance of iridescence effect on certain areas of some parts. This effect is ranging from barely visible to lightly visible and has to do with several factors, like the exposure of said surface areas to deposition “cloud”, the energy and settings of the procedure and more technical attributes. It is certain though that you won’t be finding any disturbing iridescence on visible areas of Tripod DLC parts, as we have made sure that they are restricted to a low degree, also only appearing on inner surfaces of some parts.

Summing Up

Of all methods available, we feel that electroplating offers the best balance of quality vs costs, while Diamond-Like Carbon features the best quality, though at a quite higher price. Offering high hardness and solid, uniform finish plus being neutral and durable against liquids, DLC is the peak of coloured finishes. Nothing less for one of the best RTAs out there.