Superlubricity with Graphitization in Ti-Doped DLC/Steel Tribopair: Response on Humidity and Temperature

The anti-friction of diamond-like carbon (DLC) is achieved by a well-developed carbonaceous transfer layer, and Ti-doped DLC is developed into a robustly built-up carbonaceous transfer layer. The friction performance of DLC depends on the operating environment, e.g., ambient gas, humidity, temperature, lubricants, and mating material. In this study, we aimed to reveal the environmental sensitivities of Ti-DLC on friction characteristics. To this end, a Ti-DLC was rubbed against a steel ball, and friction behaviors were evaluated with different gas compositions, humidity, and temperature. Finally, we identified that fractional coverage of water on surfaces affected the anti-graphitization on Ti-DLC, leading to avoiding friction reduction.