Surface treatments and blade coatings are becoming increasingly popular in knife manufacturing. Mikov uses two types of these coatings: Cerakote and DLC, or Diamond-Like Carbon. DLC has unique properties and is popular not only for knives but especially in industries where high resistance to wear and corrosion is required.
In the 1970s, scientists sought to develop a surface treatment for metal components that would combine the hardness of diamond with the chemical resistance of graphite. They discovered that so-called amorphous carbon possesses these properties. Unlike graphite or diamond, which have crystal lattices, amorphous carbon does not have a regular structure; instead, its atoms are disordered. Thanks to this, it possesses all the desired unique properties. That is why amorphous carbon has become a key component of DLC coatings.
DLC coating is truly hard—almost as hard as diamond. At the same time, it has a low coefficient of friction, provides protection against corrosion and aggressive chemicals, and can withstand high temperatures without losing its properties. And as an added bonus, it looks very good and elegant.
Thanks to all these properties, DLC coating quickly made its way from the automotive, engineering, and aerospace industries into the cutlery industry. It has only one drawback. Despite advances in nanotechnology, DLC coating is still not a cheap process. That’s why Mikov uses DLC coating only on knives that are considered premium products.
The first Mikov knife to feature DLC technology was the Predator Blackout. It was followed by the Pocket gentleman’s knives , the Taurus tank knife , and the Project knives —the war veteran Storm and Golak. DLC coating will also be featured on the upcoming exclusive series of Safari hunting knives.
If you choose a Mikov knife with a DLC coating, you’ll not only get excellent protection against corrosion but also the assurance that it won’t get scratched or damaged, even if you carry it in your pocket along with keys and other metal objects. All owners of the Pocket Sknife who carry it on their keychaincan attest to this after years of use .