Anti-friction diamond-like carbon nanocoatings for advanced tribological applications

Diamond-like-Carbon (DLC), is a cheaper alternative to diamond and have applications in wear resistance and lubrication of mechanical parts. Here, commercially viable thin film anti-friction DLC nanocoatings are produced by Radio-Frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. The tribological properties are measured and correlated with the microstructural properties of carbon films. Coefficient of friction (COF) for two sets of samples prepared by varying power and pressure in the plasma, are estimated at different tribological conditions. The film deposition parameters are found to have a direct impact on their frictional behavior. The ID/IG ratio in Raman spectra and sp3-fraction of the films from HR-XPS data have been estimated and are found to be in direct correlation with the COF and wear of the DLC films.