THICK AND WELL ADHERENT CARBON LAYERS FOR AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Technical University of Lodz, ul. Stefanowskiego 1, 90 – 924 Lodz, Poland.

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Diamond-like carbon (DLC) layers due to their good mechanical properties are a very
interesting material for many industrial applications. But to thick DLC layer results in
high internal stress, and is the reason of problems, connected with their poor adhesion
and self delamination processes. This problem is widely discussed in world literature.
Despite of their very good friction parameters very often the maximum thickness
possible to obtain is not sufficient to be applied. Authors of this work propose
improvement of adhesion and increase of the thickness of carbon layers by the
deposition of Ti inter and buffer layer between the substrate surface and the carbon
layer on the top. Specially to that purpose a new apparatus was designed, which is the
connection of impuls magnetron sputtering and plasma assisted chemical vapor
deposition in one reaction chamber. Gradient layers were deposited on typical materials
which are used in automotive industry and work under friction conditions. Manufactured
layers were investigated on SEM and AES, friction coefficient and wear resistance was
measured by ball – on – disc method. As the result of investigation it was noticed that
carbon layers manufactured in new deposition system are very promising material for
automotive applications. It was possible to obtain thick and well adherent DLC layers
with keeping of their very good friction parameters.

Keywords