Comparative study of dry high-temperature tribological performance of hydrogen-free and hydrogenated DLC films deposited by HiPIMS in DOMS mode
Alireza Vahidi, Fábio Ferreira, J.C. Oliveira
Abstract
Solid lubricants are crucial for industries operating at temperatures beyond 300 ºC, where liquid lubricants encounter limitations. Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films, known for exceptional solid lubrication and mechanical properties, need higher thermal stability for effective use in high-temperature applications. This study focuses on developing DLC films with the required thermal stability and solid lubricating properties. Hydrogen-free and hydrogenated DLC films were deposited utilizing deep oscillation magnetron sputtering (DOMS). Thermal characterizations revealed both films surpassed 500 ºC in thermal stability, rendering them suitable for high-temperature tribological applications. However, the hydrogenated DLC film exhibited superior solid lubricating properties, achieving an ultra-low friction coefficient below 0.05 at elevated temperatures, along with enhanced wear resistance, while effectively protecting its counterpart up to 500 ºC.