Author(s)

Y. T. Pei, D. Martinez-Martinez & J. Th. M. De Hosson

Abstract

This paper focuses on the frictional behavior of flexible diamond-like carbon (DLC) films coated hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber. By making use of the substantial thermal mismatch between DLC film and rubber substrate, the DLC film splits during deposition into micro-segments that contribute to flexibility. The size of film micro-segments can be tuned by controlling the temperature variation of rubber substrate during deposition. The influence of the size of DLC film micro-segments on the frictional performance is studied. The effect of viscoelasticity of the rubber substrate on the frictional behavior of DLC film coated system is scrutinized with tribo-tests and theoretical analysis. The importance of adhesive and hysteresis contributions to friction is revealed, and an overarching model is presented. Keywords: DLC film, flexibility, viscoelastic deformation, rubber substrate, tribology.

Keywords

Keywords: DLC film, flexibility, viscoelastic deformation, rubber substrate, tribology.