Evaluation of Anti-Adhesion Characteristics of Diamond-Like Carbon Film by Combining Friction and Wear Test with Step Loading and Weibull Analysis

Abstract

Anti-adhesion characteristics are important requirements for diamond-like carbon (DLC) films. The failure load corresponding to the anti-adhesion capacity varies greatly on three types of DLC film (hydrogen-free amorphous carbon film (a-C), hydrogenated amorphous carbon film (a-C:H), and tetrahedral hydrogen-free amorphous carbon film (ta-C)) in the friction and wear test with step loading using a high-frequency, linear-oscillation tribometer. Therefore, a new method that estimates a representative value of the failure load was developed in this study by performing a statistical analysis based on the Weibull distribution based on the assumption that the mechanism of delamination of a DLC film obeys the weakest link model. The failure load at the cumulative failure probabilities of 10% and 50% increased in the order ta-C < a-C:H < a-C and ta-C < a-C < a-C:H, respectively. The variation of the failure load, represented by the Weibull slope, was minimum on ta-C and maximum on a-C:H. The rank of the anti-adhesion capacity of each DLC film with respect to the load obtained by a constant load test agreed with the rank of the failure load on each DLC film at the cumulative failure probability of 10% obtained by Weibull analysis. It was found to be possible to evaluate the anti-adhesion capacity of a DLC film under more practical conditions by combining the step loading test and Weibull analysis.

Nanostructure of Superlubricating Tribofilm Based on Friction-Induced a-C:H Films under Various Working Conditions: A Review of Solid Lubrication

“…Additionally, their good adhesion to substrates contributes to reduced friction and wear. When selecting counterparts for a mechanical system, one must prioritize their ability to adhere to the substrate, such as metal and ceramic [104][105][106][107][108]. This consideration is vital as it directly impacts on the lubrication properties.…”

Weibull analysis of ceramics and related materials: A review

“…The Weibull curve's shape is determined by the shape parameter. The properties of distinct dissimilar life dispersals can be perfected by modifying the shape [ 109 , 110 ]. The 63.2 percentile of the distribution is the Weibull scale parameter (α) [ 111 ].…”