Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T23:21:50.270Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Improving the tribological properties of DLC (Fullerene-like) films grown by ECR-CVD with metal nanoparticles incorporation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2011

Ainhoa Pardo*
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM-CSIC), C/ Sor Juana Inés de La Cruz, 3, Cantoblanco (28049), Madrid, Spain
Cristina Gómez-Aleixandre
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM-CSIC), C/ Sor Juana Inés de La Cruz, 3, Cantoblanco (28049), Madrid, Spain
Get access

Abstract

Thin Me-DLC films with different metal contents have been deposited by ECR-CVD (Electron Cyclotron Resonance Chemical Vapour Deposition). Before the growth process, metal nanoparticles were scattered over the substrate surface by dipping it into a dispersion previously sonicated. The concentration of the dispersion (150, 300, 500 and 5000 ppm) controls the metal content into the carbon coating. The morphology of the deposited samples was analysed by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy). The metal content in the carbon films has been evaluated by SIMS (Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy). The incorporation of low amounts of metal nanoparticles into the hard carbon coating produces an outstanding improvement in the durability of the layer, as detected by pin-on-disc tests. For an optimum chromium content of 300 ppm of nanoparticles in the dispersion, the grown layer exhibits a noteworthy higher wear resistance respect to that of the DLC reference film. More precisely, in this case, the Cr-DLC coating undergoes ten times longer wear process than the reference DLC coating. However, it is important to indicate that in samples grown using more concentrated dispersions (> 300 ppm), a rapid deterioration of the coating is produced and short lifetimes have been detected, attributed to the large contribution of metal to the transfer layer.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

[1] Ferrari, A. C. and Robertson, J., Physical Review B. 61, 14095. (2000).Google Scholar
[2] Buijnsters, J. G., Camero, M., Vázquez, L., Agulló-Rueda, F., Gago, R., Jiménez, I., Gómez-Aleixandre, C. and Albella, J. M., Diamond and Related Materials. 19, 1093.Google Scholar
[3] Gago, R., Jimenez, , Neidhardt, J., Abendroth, B., Caretti, I., Hultman, L., and Moller, W., Physical Review B. 71, 125414. (2005).Google Scholar
[4] Wang, X., Wang, P., Yang, S. and Zhang, J., Wear. 265, 1708. (2008).Google Scholar
[5] Andara, M., Agarwal, A., Scholvin, D., Gerhardt, R. A., Doraiswamy, A., Jin, C., Narayan, R. J., Shih, C.-C., Shih, C.-M., Lin, S.-J. and Su, Y.-Y., Diamond and Related Materials. 15, 1941.Google Scholar
[6] Endrino, J. L., Escobar Galindo, R., Zhang, H. S., Allen, M., Gago, R., Espinosa, A. and Anders, A., Surface and Coatings Technology. 202, 3675. (2008).Google Scholar
[7] Erdemir, A. and Donnet, C., Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics.39, R311R327. (2006).Google Scholar
[8] Robertson, J., Progress in Solid State Chemistry. 21, 199. (1991).Google Scholar
[9] Mounier, E. and Pauleau, Y., Diamond and Related Materials. 6, 1182. (1997).Google Scholar
[10] Bewilogua, K., Cooper, C. V., Specht, C., Schröder, J., Wittorf, R. and Grischke, M., Surface and Coatings Technology. 132, 275. (2000).Google Scholar
[11] Pal, S. K., Jiang, J. and Meletis, E. I., Surface and Coatings Technology. 201, 7917. (2007).Google Scholar
[12] Kalish, R., Lifshitz, Y., Nugent, K. and Prawer, S., Applied Physics Letters. 74, 2936. (1999).Google Scholar
[13] Wei, C. and Yen, J.-Y., Diamond and Related Materials. 16, 1325.Google Scholar
[14] Kulikovsky, V. Y., Fendrych, F., Jastrabik, L., Chvostova, D., Soukup, L., Pridal, J. and Franc, F., Surface and Coatings Technology. 102, 81. (1998).Google Scholar
[15] Rusli, H., Yoon, S. F., Huang, Q. F., Ahn, J., Zhang, Q., Yang, H., Wu, Y. S., Teo, E. J., Osipowicz, T. and Watt, F., Diamond and Related Materials. 10, 132. (2001).Google Scholar
[16] Singh, V., Jiang, J. C. and Meletis, E. I., Thin Solid Films. 489, 150. (2005).Google Scholar
[17] Precht, W. and Czyzniewski, A., Surface and Coatings Technology. 174-175, 979.Google Scholar
[18] Buijnsters, J. G. and Vázquez, L., Surface and Coatings Technology. 201, 8950. (2007).Google Scholar
[19] Torres, R., Pardo, A., Vergara, L., Buijnsters, J. G., Gomez-Aleixandre, C. and Jimenez, I., (submitted to Diamond and Related Materials). (2011).Google Scholar
[20] Escobar Galindo, R., Gago, R., Albella, J. M. and Lousa, A., TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry. 28, 494. (2009).Google Scholar
[21] Liu, Y., Erdemir, A. and Meletis, E. I., Surface and Coatings Technology. 82, 48. (1996).Google Scholar