In our previous studies it was shown that diamond-like carbon @LC) films possess low fiction coefficient 6') and excellent wear resistance. The reduction infwas found to be consistent with a "wear-induced graphitization" mechanism of the DLC structure. A recent study showed that operational parameters (sliding velocity and loading level) inhence the tribological behavior of DLC film through control of the kinetics of the graphitization process. The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of environmental parameters (humidity and temperature) on the tribological behavior of DLC film and provide hrther support to the wearinduced graphitization mechanism. Ion-beam deposition was utilized to deposit DLC on a Sic substrate. Pin-on-disc experiments were conducted by varying humidity (O%, 40% and 100%) and temperature (-10°C and 25°C). As-deposited DLC and wear debris was characterized by transmission electron microscopy. It was found that lower humidity increases the graphitization rate more than likely due to the reduction in the effect by the water molecules. A decreased graphitization rate was observed at lower temperature and higher humidity and can be attributed to suppression of temperature rise at hot spots. The present findings are consistent with and hrther veri@ the wear-induced graphitization mechanism.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.