Metal Buffer Layer on Structure, Mechanical and Tribological Property of GLC films

doi:10.15541/jim20170217

Abstract

Abstract:

Graphite-like carbon films (GLC) with different metal buffer layers (Cr, Ti, W) were fabricated by direct current magnetron sputtering technique. The effect of metal buffer layer on structure and tribological properties in artificial seawater were carefully investigated. The results show that, in contrast to Ti/GLC and W/GLC film, Cr/GLC film has the highest sp² hybridization content, which increases from the top layer to Cr/C interface. The highest sp² hybridization content promotes graphitization degree of the tribo-film which acts as lubrication phase in the sliding process. The results of potentiodynamic polarization tests show that, in all of three GLC films, Cr/GLC film shows superior corrosion resistance with the highest corrosion voltage (E_corr) of -0.16 V and the lowest corrosion current (i_corr) of 4.42×10^-9 A/cm². As a result, Cr/GLC film presents the best tribological properties in artificial seawater in contrast to Ti/GLC and W/GLC films.

Key words: seawater, GLC, metal buffer layer, EELS

CLC Number:

TH117

LI Lei, GUO Peng, LIU Lin-Lin, SUN Li-Li, KE Pei-Ling, WANG Ai-Ying. Metal Buffer Layer on Structure, Mechanical and Tribological Property of GLC films[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2018, 33(3): 331-338.

Figures/Tables 12

Table 1 Chemical composition of artificial seawater/(g•L-1)

Constituent	NaCl	MgCl₂	Na₂SO₄	CaCl₂	KCl	NaHCO₃	KBr	H₃BO₃	SrCl₂	NaF
Concentration	24.530	5.200	4.090	1.160	0.695	0.201	0.101	0.027	0.025	0.003

Fig. 1 Surface and cross-sectional morphologies of GLC films with different metal buffer layers(a, d) Cr/GLC; (b, e) Ti/GLC; (c, f) W/GLC

Fig. 2 Cross-sectional high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images and SAED patterns of the GLC films with different metal buffer layers(a) Cr/GLC; (b) Ti/GLC; (c) W/GLC

Fig. 3 (a) Raman spectra and (b) fitted ID/IG, G peak position, GFWHM of the GLC films with different metal buffer layers

Fig. 4 EELS spectra of the GLC films with different metal buffer layers(a) Cr/GLC; (b) Ti/GLC; (c) W/GLC; (d) Position schematic diagram of taking EELS spectra

Fig. 5 Mechanical properties of the GLC films with different metal buffer layers

Fig. 6 Potentiodynamic polarization curves of the 316LSS substrate and GLC films with different metal buffer layers in artificial seawater

Fig. 7 EIS results of the GLC films with different metal buffer layers in artificial seawater(a) Nyquist plots; (b) Bode plots; (c) Equivalent circuit

Table 2 Fitting data of EIS results for the GLC films with different metal buffer layers

Sample	R_S/(Ω•cm²)	Q₁/(Ω^-1•cm^-2•sⁿ)	n₁	R₁/(Ω•cm²)	Q₂/(Ω^-1•cm^-2•sⁿ)	n₂	R₂/(Ω•cm²)
Cr/GLC	85.1	1.3×10^-6	0.91	4.4×10⁴	1.4×10^-6	0.64	1.2×10⁶
Ti/GLC	110.1	1.2×10^-6	0.94	7.3×10³	3.4×10^-6	0.66	5.3×10⁵
W/GLC	74.9	6.2×10^-7	0.92	4.4×10³	1.9×10^-6	0.64	4.1×10⁵

Fig. 8 (a) Friction coefficient curves of the GLC films with different metal buffer layers in artificial seawater and (b) average friction coefficients and wear rates of GLC films with different metal buffer layers

Fig. 9 SEM images of wear track of the GLC films in artificial seawater(a) Cr/GLC; (b) Ti/GLC; (c) W/GLC

Fig. 10 Raman spectra on wear scars of Si3N4 balls for the GLC films(a) Cr/GLC; (b) Ti/GLC; (c) W/GLC

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