Comparative Analysis of Two Methods for Evaluating Wear Rate of Nanocrystalline Diamond Films

Abstract

The study deals with the calculation of the wear rate of nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films. The NCD films were grown by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MW-PECVD) on (100)-oriented Si wafers. Reciprocating sliding tests with different loads and test durations were conducted. The depth profiles of wear scars were analyzed by the mechanical (stylus) profilometer and the wear rate was evaluated. The NCD films were broken across the wear scars and the wear rate was estimated by the measurement of the area of wear scar using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) cross-sectional image. A good agreement was found between two methods.

Relation between Self-Organization and Wear Mechanisms of Diamond Films

“…An indication of self-organization can be a change of the wear rate [ 14 ]. The evaluation of the wear rate of the tribological system with deflection is a challenge as the surface deformation influences on the estimation of the wear volume [ 31 , 32 ]. The change of the wear rate can be related to a change of the wear regime.…”

“…The tribological system that is under investigation can be viewed as a thin hard film (diamond film) on a softer substrate (Si, WC-Co). Two types of diamond films (nanocrystalline diamond (NCD), microcrystalline diamond (MCD)) were investigated, see for details our publications [ 26 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 37 , 38 ]. The NCD films were grown under different conditions, therefore they are abbreviated by NCD-1 [ 31 , 32 , 37 ], NCD-2 [ 26 , 38 ] and NCD-3 [ 33 ].…”

“…The present review is based on the analysis of deflection phenomenon on diamond films investigated in our recent studies [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. The deflection is considered as a plastic deformation of the whole film within contact zone and it should be distinguished from the plastic deformation of the asperities [ 36 ].…”

“…Diamond is a brittle material, thus the fracture of asperities can occur [ 1 ]. The origin of deflection phenomenon can be the film/substrate structure and film bending (elastic and plastic deformation) during sliding [ 31 , 32 ]. The film deflection increases with an increasing of the test duration and normal load and can be explained in terms of fatigue [ 31 ].…”

Nanocrystalline Materials: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties, and Applications

“…This process is mainly utilized to produce thin film coatings on the substrate material. This coated surface offers excellent mechanical and tribological properties [97,98].…”