Formation and Prediction of Tribotechnical Properties of Ion-Plasma Diamond-Like Coatings under Stabilization with Nitrogen

The paper presents one of the options for solving the scientific and applied problem of the predicted formation of tribotechnical characteristics of an ion-plasma coating. The problem is solved by creating and subsequently analyzing a database of carbon coatings, including technological parameters of coating application, their elemental compositions, structural and morphological characteristics of coatings, their physical, mechanical and tribological properties, as well as characteristics of the substrate and indicators of the quality of its surface. The object of research in this work is DLC ion plasma coatings deposited on a steel substrate. The work shows that the use of nitrogen to stabilize carbon coatings instead of hydrogen ensures not only obtaining stable thicknesses of DLC coatings at the level of 1.0—1.5 mm, but also serves as an important and convenient technological parameter for regulating the tribological characteristics of the coating during its application. Based on the predicted and experimental values of the friction coefficient m and data on the sample run length L, the intervals of optimal values of the technological parameters %N and l were determined. The studied carbon ion-plasma DLC coatings, obtained according to the established optimal application modes, can be recommended for applied use under friction conditions equivalent to the tribotechnical tests carried out at a friction load of F » 10 N.

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