2013 Volume 58 Issue 3 Pages 197-205
Hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) films were deposited on rubber surface by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using a non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma jet. The effects of additive nitrogen gas in argon working gas on chemical, mechanical and tribological characteristics of a-C:H films were investigated. It is clear that the addition of nitrogen in the working gas causes an increase in nitrogen and hydrogen content of the a-C:H coatings. Furthermore, cracks and wrinkles on the surface of a-C:H films appear due to the addition of nitrogen in the working gas. These changes lead to the improvement of tribological properties such as adhesion between the a-C:H film and the rubber substrate, coefficient of friction and wear resistance. As a result, friction coefficient of 0.13 is achieved when nitrogen is added into argon working gas at a concentration of 16.7 vol%. This plasma process is expected to be an alternative technique to deposit the a-C:H coatings on rubber for conventional methods.
