Abstract
DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) coatings possess many attractive properties, including high hardness, a low friction coefficient, and extreme wear resistance. Due to these properties, DLC coatings have elicited considerable interest within high technological industries, such as those for magnetic hard disks, ball and rolling bearings, high-precision gears, cutting tools, etc.
But in some cases, sliding components including car clutches, and laptop hinges require frictional controlled DLC surfaces. They are expected to have appropriate torque, and superior fatigue and wear resistance, but lower friction coefficients are less important.
In this study, experiments were conducted on the controlling of frictional forces by topographically structuring contact surfaces. Fine Particle Bombardment (FPB) has been employed to create micro-dimples that act to control surface roughness. The friction coefficient at the DLC surface changes according to the surface roughness.
Therefore, the method presented in this study provides a simple and effective way of controlling the friction between DLC coated surfaces in contact.
