Tribological characterization of carbon-nitrogen coatings deposited by using vacuum arc discharge

• Published in: Diamond and related materials Vol. 5; no. 6; pp. 669 - 673
• Main Authors: Koskinen, J., Hirvonen, J-P., Levoska, J., Torri, P.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.05.1996; Elsevier
• Subjects: Carbon nitride films; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Exact sciences and technology; Mechanical and acoustical properties; Physical properties of thin films, nonelectronic; Physics; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Tribology; Vacuum arc discharge deposition; Carbon nitride films; Vacuum arc discharge deposition; Tribology; Raman spectra; Inorganic compounds; Mechanical properties; Binary compounds; Experimental study; Coatings; Friction; Wear; Carbon nitrides; Chemical composition; Microstructure; Electric arcs; Vacuum deposition; Glow discharges
• ISSN: 0925-9635; 1879-0062
• DOI: 10.1016/0925-9635(95)00382-7

Carbon nitride (CN) films have been deposited by using the pulsed vacuum arc method on silicon and metallic substrates. Films were deposited in a nitrogen gas ambient varying between 0.01 and 0.56 Pa. The nitrogen content of the films as analysed by using ion-beam methods (NRA) varied from 0 to 34 at.%. The microstructure was characterized by using Raman spectroscopy. The wear and friction properties of the CN films as a function of nitrogen content were measured by using a pin-on-disk apparatus. The CN films had consistently higher coefficient of friction as the nitrogen content was increased, especially at lower values of relative humidity. Against the steel pin, wear rates of the CN films varied from 0.1 to 0.5 × 10 −16 m 3 N −1 m −1 as the nitrogen content grew from 0 to 34 at.%, respectively. The compressive stress of the films with high nitrogen concentration was significantly lower than for pure DLC, which allows the growth of film material with an excellent wear resistance and a higher film thickness.