2020 Volume 65 Issue 10 Pages 610-615
Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films are of significant interest for the automobile field, because they possess the potential to improve friction properties under various sliding conditions. In particular, the low friction of Si containing DLC (DLC-Si) films are related to the existence of water in the atmosphere. DLC-Si films exhibited a low friction property caused by Si-OH formation on the wear surface under lubricated oil without additive. In addition, the Si-OH surface has adsorbed water. The role of adsorbed water on DLC-Si films is considered to be boundary layer, since the thickness (several nm) of adsorbed water on the films was much smaller than surface roughness of wear tracks on the films.
