Characterization and tribological application of diamond-like carbon (DLC) films prepared by radio-frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (RF-PECVD) technique

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were successfully prepared on glass substrates and surfaces of selenium drums via radio frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition method. The microstructure, surface morphology, hardness, film adhesion, and tribological properties of the films were characterized and evaluated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and micro-sclerometer and friction-wear spectrometer. The results showed that DLC films have smooth surfaces, homogeneous particle sizes, and excellent tribological properties, which can be used to improve the surface quality of the selenium drums and prolong their service life.     

Study on hybrid nano-diamond films formed by plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD)

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films made by plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD) have many useful properties for tribological characteristics. Especially, friction coefficient is very low. However, the films have weak points i.e., very low heatproof temperature of less than 300 °C and low hardness insufficient for industrial applications like machine tools. On the other hand, it is well known that diamond films made by plasma CVD have excellent hardness. But, they also have inferior properties for industrial applications, such as higher surface roughness and lower critical load than DLC films. In this study, we developed hybrid nano-diamond (HND) films that are formed by alternately depositing DLC films and diamond films in a same chamber. The HND films have sufficiently high hardness as well as excellent tribological characteristics due to the multi-layer structure of DLC and diamond. The process of forming HND films are discussed.     

Analysis of plastic deformation in diamond like carbon films-steel substrate system with tribological tests

The influence of plastic deformation of the substrate on the tribological properties of diamond like carbon (DLC) films was investigated in DLC films-steel substrate system. The tribological properties of DLC films deposited on different hardness steel were evaluated by a ball on disk rotating-type friction tester at room temperature under different environments. In dry nitrogen, DLC films on soft steel exhibited excellent tribological properties, especially obvious under high load (such as 20 N and 50 N). However, DLC films on hard steel were worn out quickly at load of 20 N. Plastic deformation was observed on soft steel after tribological tests. The width and depth of plastic deformation track increased with increase of the experimental load. Super low friction and no measurable wear were kept in good condition even large plastic deformation under high load conditions in DLC films-soft steel system. In open air, DLC films on soft steel exhibited high coefficient of friction and DLC films on ball were worn out quickly. Plastic deformation was not observed on soft steel because the contact area increased and the thick hardened layer on contact surface were formed by DLC films and debris particles together on the steel substrate. The wear track on steel became deep and wide with increase of loads and DLC films were worn out. The experimental results showed that super low friction and high wear resistance of DLC films on soft steel can be attributed to the good adhesion and plastic deformation. Plastic deformation played an active role in the tribological properties of DLC films on soft steel in the present work.     

Microstructure and property evolution of Cr-DLC films with different Cr content deposited by a hybrid beam technique

Cr-containing diamond-like carbon (Cr-DLC) films was deposited on silicon wafers by a hybrid beams system, which consists of a DC magnetron sputtering and a linear ion source. The chromium content in the films was adjusted by varying the fraction of Ar in the Ar and CH₄ gas mixture. The composition, microstructure, surface morphology, mechanical properties and tribological behavior of the films were investigated by XPS, TEM, AFM, SEM, nano-indentation and tribological tester as a function of Cr content. It is shown that, as the Cr content increased from 1.49 to 40.11 at.%, the Cr-DLC films transfer from amorphous DLC with dispersed metallic-like Cr to composite DLC with carbide phases embedding in the DLC matrix, and the film surface morphology also evolve from flat surface into rough surface with larger hillocks. The amorphous Cr-DLC films exhibit a low friction coefficient and wear rate as pure DLC, while the composite Cr-DLC films show a higher friction coefficient and wear rate, although they possess a relatively high hardness.     

离子辅助轰击能量对类金刚石薄膜性能的影响

研究了利用ＩＢＡＤ方法沉积类金刚石薄膜时,离子的辅助轰击能量对薄的微观结构、表面粗糙度,弹性、硬度以及摩擦系数的影响,获得了机械和摩擦性能优异的类金刚石薄膜。讨论了薄膜微观结构和性能之间的关系。分析了不同硬度测试方法的差异。     

Surface adsorption and wetting properties of amorphous diamond-like carbon thin films for biomedical applications

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) thin films have unique properties for biological and medical applications due to their excellent bio-compatibility, chemical inertness, and superior mechanical properties. It is important to understand the surface properties of DLC thin films for these applications. In this work, we showed that after DLC deposition, NiTi surfaces became much smoother by choosing suitable deposition conditions. Adsorption and wetting properties of DLC films were studied. The adsorption properties of DLC films were unusual in that a hysteresis was found in the adsorption/desorption isotherms, which cannot be interpreted using the conventional theory of capillary condensation in pores. The model proposed in this work for this unusual hysteresis characteristic is that the hysteresis results from the non-wetting property of DLC surfaces in the nano-scale. The nano-sized droplets formed on the DLC surfaces may require significantly higher energy to evaporate than the formation energy. Argon plasma treatment resulted in a small decrease of the contact angles. After oxygen plasma treatment, the wetting contact angles reduced significantly due to the increase of carbon-oxygen sites on the surfaces, suggesting that the low concentration of carbon-oxygen sites on the surfaces of DLC films contributed to the adsorption hysteresis observed in this work.     

Hydrophobic properties of the ion beam deposited DLC films containing SiOx

Diamond like carbon (DLC) films received considerable interest due to outstanding mechanical and tribological properties as well as chemical inertness and hydrophobicity. That combination is particularly interesting for possible application of the DLC as anti-sticking layers in novel lithographic techniques such as nanoimprint lithography, because Si, quartz and Ni - the most often used materials for imprint stamp formation - have high surface energy and, as a result, bad anti-adhesive properties. In present study, SiO_x containing DLC thin films were synthesized from hexamethyldisiloxane vapor and hydrogen gas mixture by direct ion beam deposition. Anti-sticking properties of the grown DLC thin films were evaluated measuring surface contact angle with water. Chemical composition and structure of the deposited films were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and FTIR spectrometry. Morphology of the films was measured by atomic force microscopy. Effects of hexamethyldisiloxane flux on structure, anti-sticking properties and surface morphology of the SiO_x containing DLC thin films were defined.     

类金刚石碳膜的结构特性与耐磨性能

采用双离子束增强沉积（IBED）和离子束直接沉积（IBD）技术，在CHn 能量为200~550eV和3～25keV范围内沉积的类金刚石薄膜具有光滑平坦的表面和非晶结构。X光电子谱和Raman光谱分析、以及显微硬度测量的结果表明，随着轰击离子能量的降低，薄膜的金刚石特性增强；在200～550eV能量范围内制备的DLC膜具有明显的sp3键特征和很高的显微硬度。沉积在GCr15钢上的DLC膜与GCr15钢的摩擦学对比实验表明，DLC膜具有很低的摩擦系数、比磨损率和高的抗磨损指数，这证明采用上述两种方法制备的DLC膜具有优良的抗摩擦磨损性能。     

硅掺杂类金刚石薄膜表面性能研究

本文使用原子力显微镜考察了硅掺杂类金刚石薄膜的表面形貌及粗糙度,同时分析了薄膜表面的粘附力和微观摩擦力学性能。实验表明,随着基底负偏压的增加,薄膜的表面粗糙度值逐渐减小;摩擦力和外加载荷成线性关系,且粘附力是微小载荷下影响固体滑动摩擦力的主要因素,并采用最佳拟合直线的斜率表征出样品的摩擦系数的大小。     

Structure, mechanical and tribological properties of diamond-like carbon films on aluminum alloy by arc ion plating

The low hardness and poor tribological performance of aluminum alloys restrict their engineering applications. However, protective hard films deposited on aluminum alloys are believed to be effective for overcoming their poor wear properties. In this paper, diamond-like carbon (DLC) films as hard protective film were deposited on 2024 aluminum alloy by arc ion plating. The dependence of the chemical state and microstructure of the films on substrate bias voltage was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The mechanical and tribological properties of the DLC films deposited on aluminum alloy were investigated by nanoindentation and ball-on-disk tribotester, respectively. The results show that the deposited DLC films were very well-adhered to the aluminum alloy substrate, with no cracks or delamination being observed. A maximum sp³ content of about 37% was obtained at −100 V substrate bias, resulting in a hardness of 30 GPa and elastic modulus of 280 GPa. Thus, the surface hardness and wear resistance of 2024 aluminum alloy can be significantly improved by applying a protective DLC film coating. The DLC-coated aluminum alloy showed a stable and relatively low friction coefficient, as well as narrower and shallower wear tracks in comparison with the uncoated aluminum alloy.     

Tribological and thermal stability study of nanoporous amorphous boron carbide films prepared by pulsed plasma chemical vapor deposition

Abstract

In this work, the thermal stability and the oxidation and tribological behavior of nanoporous a-BC:H films are studied and compared with those in conventional diamond-like carbon (DLC) films. a-BC:H films were deposited by pulsed plasma chemical vapor deposition using B(CH₃)₃ gas as the boron source. A DLC interlayer was used to prevent the a-BC:H film delamination produced by oxidation. Thermal stability of a-BC:H films, with no delamination signs after annealing at 500 °C for 1 h, is better than that of the DLC films, which completely disappeared under the same conditions. Tribological test results indicate that the a-BC:H films, even with lower nanoindentation hardness than the DLC films, show an excellent boundary oil lubricated behavior, with lower friction coefficient and reduce the wear rate of counter materials than those on the DLC film. The good materials properties such as low modulus of elasticity and the formation of micropores from the original nanopores during boundary regimes explain this better performance. Results show that porous a-BC:H films may be an alternative for segmented DLC films in applications where severe tribological conditions and complex shapes exist, so surface patterning is unfeasible.     

Deposition of diamond like carbon (DLC) and C-N films using ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) technique and evaluation of their properties

Diamond like carbon films and C-N films were prepared using ion beam assisted deposition technique (IBAD). Tribological properties were studied by subjecting DLC coated films to the accelerated wear tests. These tests indicated a significant improvement in the mechanical surface properties of glass by DLC coating. Better wear features were obtained for thinner DLC coating as compared to the thicker ones. We also studied the optical properties and obtained a band gap of 1·4 eV for these films. An attempt was made to prepare C₃N₄ films by using IBAD. We observed variation in the nitrogen incorporation in the film with the substrate temperature.     

Metal incorporation strategies in DLC (fullerene-like) thin films grown by ECR-CVD

The main aim of this work is the comparison among different methods for metal incorporation in Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC, fullerene-like) Carbon for improving the tribological properties. The films have been grown by Electron Cyclotron Resonance Chemical Vapour Deposition (ECR-CVD) applying a negative bias voltage to the substrate. Structural characterization of the samples was performed by Raman spectroscopy and SEM microscopy. The tribological behaviour (friction coefficient and wear) was evaluated by pin-on-disc tests. We have dealt with several approaching methods for the introduction of metal (Cr, Mo) during the growth of carbon coatings. Metallic atoms supply has been provided in two approaches: a) by placing a target (bulk or biased-mesh) inside the deposition system (in-situ methods), or b) from nanoparticles dispersions (ex-situ). The metal-containing films present a low friction coefficient roughly similar to the reference DLC film. When in-situ methods are applied lower wear strength has been detected. Otherwise, we have seen that the incorporation of Cr nanoparticles, coming from 300 ppm ethanol dispersion, produces a significant improvement in the tribological behaviour of the sample, as shown by the severe increase in the sliding distance until coating rupture. Therefore, from the comparison among the three different methods we can infer the clear key role played by the incorporated metal nanoparticles into fullerene-like carbon films for the improvement in the tribological properties of the nanocomposites.     

Flächeneinfluss bei der PACVD‐Beschichtung

Impact of the active surface on properties of DLC films in the PACVD coating chamber. In the automotive industry, economic and stable industrial processes to apply hard coatings for tribological applications are required. Hence detailed knowledge about the influence of coating parameters on the film characteristics is essential. the following paper deals with the process of plasma activated chemical vapor deposition with focus on the effect of the parameter “active area in the coating chamber“ on the properties of diamond‐like‐carbons (DLC). the coatings are deposited in an industrial coating chamber using reactive magnetron sputtering with a pulsed bias voltage (40 kHz) and at constant pressure. During the investigation of the influence of active area and current density on the mechanical and tribological properties of the DLC films, the expected correlation between active area and current density could be confirmed. By regulating the current density, consistent film properties could be achieved, independently of the active area in the chamber. Furthermore improved wear characteristics of the film – crucial for the endurance of heavily loaded automotive components – were achieved by adapting the load pattern of the chamber.     

Metal-doped diamond-like carbon films synthesized by filter-arc deposition

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) thin films are extensively utilized in the semiconductor, electric and cutting machine industries owing to their high hardness, high elastic modulus, low friction coefficients and high chemical stability. DLC films are prepared by ion beam-assisted deposition (BAD), sputter deposition, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), cathodic arc evaporation (CAE), and filter arc deposition (FAD). The major drawbacks of these methods are the degraded hardness associated with the low sp³/sp² bonding ratio, the rough surface and poor adhesion caused by the presence of particles. In this study, a self-developed filter arc deposition (FAD) system was employed to prepare metal-containing DLC films with a low particle density. The relationships between the DLC film properties, such as film structure, surface morphology and mechanical behavior, with variation of substrate bias and target current, are examined. Experimental results demonstrate that FAD-DLC films have a lower ratio, suggesting that FAD-DLC films have a greater sp³ bonding than the CAE-DLC films. FAD-DLC films also exhibit a low friction coefficient of 0.14 and half of the number of surface particles as in the CAE-DLC films. Introducing a CrN interfacial layer between the substrate and the DLC films enables the magnetic field strength of the filter to be controlled to improve the adhesion and effectively eliminate the contaminating particles. Accordingly, the FAD system improves the tribological properties of the DLC films.     

DLC膜厚度对镁基表面DLC/MAO复合膜层性能的影响

采用线性离子束沉积技术于AZ80镁合金微弧氧化(MAO)陶瓷层表面沉积不同厚度的类金刚石碳(DLC)膜,形成DLC/MAO复合膜层。对比研究4种膜基系统的表面结构特征、力学性能以及摩擦学性能差异。结果表明:随DLC膜厚度增加,复合膜层表面微孔数量减少,孔径减小,但凹凸不平趋势增加,且DLC膜表面颗粒特征更加明显,表现为DLC-80min/MAO/AZ80膜基系统具有最小的表面粗糙度,最大的硬度H、弹性模量E及H/E值;不同厚度DLC/MAO/AZ80膜基系统平均摩擦因数较MAO/AZ80显著降低;DLC膜厚度增加导致3种复合膜基系统的表面微观结构改变,使得摩擦因数与磨痕形貌存在差异;各膜基系统表面磨痕处均形成了Fe的转移层,由于表层DLC膜"裸露"的大量C对磨损界面具有很好的润滑作用,而使得镁合金基体获得有效保护。     

不锈钢衬底两面同时液相电沉积类金刚石薄膜及其沉积机理研究

为了利用液相电沉积技术实现在金属衬底表面全方位电沉积类金刚石(DLC)薄膜,采用不同尺度的不锈钢片作为衬底,在表面电沉积了DLC薄膜,利用X射线光电子能谱、Raman光谱和扫描电子显微镜分别对衬底两面薄膜的化学成分、微观结构和表面形貌进行了分析。结果显示:对于尺度大于石墨阳极的不锈钢衬底,仅在衬底正对着阳极的一面实现了DLC薄膜的沉积;而对于尺度小于阳极的不锈钢衬底,在衬底两面都有DLC薄膜沉积,且两面薄膜结构相似,形貌相近。利用准静态电场理论对实验结果进行了解释,提出在金属衬底表面实现液相电沉积DLC薄膜的前提条件是存在垂直于衬底表面的电场分量,为进一步实现在复杂形状的导电性衬底表面沉积DLC薄膜提供了理论依据。     

H13钢离子渗氮(PN)与类金刚石(DLC)复合处理的摩擦磨损性能研究

采用阳极层流离子源与非平衡磁控溅射结合的沉积方法在H13钢基体表面沉积出类金刚石膜(DLC),并对H13钢经不同表面预处理对后沉积的DLC膜的摩擦学性能进行了对比研究.结果表明:DLC膜结构致密,且DLC膜与梯度过渡层及基体三者之间结合牢固;H13钢经离子氮化后,梯度过渡层与氮化层间结合紧密,提高了膜与基体的承载能力;在保持相同摩擦速率的条件下,摩擦系数随着载荷的增加先增大后减小;H13钢离子渗氮处理后沉积的DLC膜其摩擦系数远小于未采用离子渗氮处理沉积的DLC薄膜.     

用于微机电系统的类金刚石膜制备及表征

采用等离子体源离子注入和电子回旋共振-微波等离子体辅助化学气相沉积技术相结合的方法在Si衬底上制备出了性能良好的类金刚石膜.通过共聚焦Raman光谱验证了薄膜的类金刚石特性,用原子力显微镜、微摩擦计和扫描电镜等对薄膜的表面形貌、摩擦系数和耐磨损性能进行了表征和测量.结果表明,用离子注入法制备过渡层大大提高了DLC膜与衬底的结合强度,薄膜的表面比较光滑,粗糙度大约为0.198 nm,具有较低的摩擦系数(0.1～0.15),具有较好的耐磨损性能.     

Nanoindentation and AFM studies of PECVD DLC and reactively sputtered Ti containing carbon films

Amorphous carbon film, bdalso known as DLC film, bdis a promising material for tribological application. It is noted that properties relevant to tribological application change significantly depending on the method of preparation of these films. These properties are also altered by the composition of the films. In view of this, bdthe objective of the present work is to compare the nanoindentation and atomic force microscopy (AFM) study of diamond like carbon (DLC) film obtained by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (bdPECVD with the Ti containing amorphous carbon (Ti/a- C : H) film obtained by unbalanced magnetron sputter deposition (UMSD). Towards that purpose, DLC and Ti/a- C : H films are deposited on silicon substrate by PECVD and UMSD processes, respectively. The microstructural features and the mechanical properties of these films are evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), bdtransmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoindentation and by AFM. The results show that the PECVD DLC film has a higher elastic modulus, hardness and roughness than the UMSD Ti/a- C : H film. It also has a lower pull off force than Ti containing amorphous carbon film.