Quasam™ is a quasi-amorphous nanocomposite of graphite-like (sp2 bonded) and diamond-like carbon (sp3 bonded). Diamond and diamond-like coatings have received tremendous attention in recent years for a variety of applications requiring the unique properties of diamond phase carbon. Some industries that use these materials include electronics, manufacturing, and transportation, with specific applications in refractory materials, engine components, magnetic recording media, tooling, and medical devices. Quasam™ represents the next step in the evolution of these materials, further extending their range of applicability, especially towards a larger variety of substrates and as well as multifunctionality.

Quasam™ is produced by standard plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) techniques. Quasam™ exhibits high adhesion to most any substrate, and can be deposited upon metals, ceramics, composites, glasses, and plastics. The interpenetrating graphite-like and diamond-like phases are typically stabilized by alloying with silicone (Si), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) through the use of a high molecular weight siloxane precursor.

Varying the metallic content through additional doping permits tuning specific properties, such the electrical conductivity. Thus Quasam™ can be used for electronics applications ranging from dielectric to conducting, such as for capacitors, charge dissipation, or field emitters. In that the electronic properties are sensitive to stress and strain, the coatings can be used as smart sensors. Quasam™ can be used as a wear resistant coating, and will strengthen substrates by decreasing their brittleness.

Currently, Quasam™ is produced as coatings (up to 200 mm thick), and is the only diamond-like material produced as freestanding samples. It combines density (1.3 - 1.65 g/cm3), elastic modulus (100 - 400 GPa), hardness (15 - 57 GPa), and fracture toughness (=10 MPa√m). It is the hardest of all materials with density < 2.0 g/cm3, and the lightest with hardness > 2O GPa. It exhibits nearly constant mechanical properties up to 600°C, superior thermal and thermal-shock resistance, exceptionally high chemical inertness, and excellent bio-compatibility.

• Density below magnesium
• Mechanical strength and temperature resistance of steel
• Erosion resistance exceeding sapphire
• Corrosion resistance of noble metals
• Excellent tribological, aerodynamic, and water/ice-repelling characteristics.

The figure above shows how the diamond-like 3D framework interpenetrates and bonds together graphene meso-planes. In such atomic-scale composite structures, the characteristic lengths of hetero-phase arrangement are equal to the critical length scales of fundamental physical phenomena in the solid. This results with physical and chemical properties that may not be reached in the conventional bulk or even nanostructured materials. Thus Quasam explores the strongest features of both diamond-like carbon and graphene mesophase, otherwise known only in carbon nanotubes, on macroscopic level.

This materials portfolio includes theoretical technology through issued and published patents. Additional theoretical level technologies exist for Quasam related applications.