J. M. Chen, Gerard A. Bell, Ben D. Beake, Hanshan Dong

Low Temperature Nano-Tribological Study on a Functionally Graded Tribological Coating Using Nanoscratch Tests

Tribology Letters 43 (2011) 351-360

Previous studies on low temperature tribological investigations were limited to macro-scale studies because of the lack of suitable instrumentation. This limitation has been overcome using a newly developed low temperature nanoscratch tester capable of characterizing the scratch resistance of coatings down to -30 A degrees C. The scratch resistance and mechanical properties of a functionally graded a-C:H(Ti)/TiCN/TiN/Ti coating have been investigated for temperatures ranging from 25 to -30 A degrees C. It has been found that the a-C:H(Ti)/TiCN/TiN/Ti coating failed at high loads by cracking and spallation during the room-temperature scratch tests. Fractography suggests that these failures originate from or close to the interface between the top a-C:H(Ti) and the TiCN layers. Decreasing the test temperature from 25 to 0 A degrees C resulted in increased values in H, H/E (r) and H (3) /E (r) (2) , consistent with improved crack- and wear resistances, with further smaller improvements being achieved on further decreasing the temperature to -30 A degrees C.

This article may also be available to you online

Cited Articles

1. Buršíková V., Navrátil V., Zajíčková L., Janča J.,
   Temperature Dependence of Mechanical Properties of DLC/Si Protective Coatings Prepared by PECVD,
   Materials Science and Engineering A 324 (2002) 251–254