Diferentes dopagens e intercamadas contendo silício: otimização da adesão de revestimentos de a-C:H sobre aço

Abstract

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings combine high wear resistance and low friction coefficient. Due to these properties, DLC can be applied on metal parts to facilitate the conformation process in bending tools and also for the reduction of friction losses in engine components. However, limitations as low adhesion and the technical complexity of the deposition process as a whole reduce its use. Several studies show alternatives to the optimization of the film, as the use of interlayers, doping and/or the application of different etching gases and deposition process parameters. However, there is a consensus in the bibliography that an combination of the above alternatives should bring the best result, especially for a low-cost industrial application. In this context, the aim of this study is to carry out a systematic study of different architectures of the film/interlayer system using precursors containing silicon for the formation of interlayer/doping zone to reach the best system in terms of DCL integrity and adhesion. The technique of deposition by pulsed direct current plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition assisted by electrostatic confinament was used to apply the coating and different architectures on the AISI O1 and AISI 4140 steels. The interlayers were produced from hexamethyldisiloxane with silicon acting also as dopant in carbon film under different conditions, allowing the film formation in a single simple process. The surface integrity of the films was evaluated by optical microscopy, while the physical and chemical structure was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy. Finally, mechanical and tribological properties of the film were evaluated by nanohardness and nanoscratch measurements, respectively. The results show that different doping architectures of DLC with silicon promote detrimental properties in the DLC, with the increase in the surface defects and the decrease of hardness and critical load for delamination. Moreover, the combination of DLC plus a single silicon-containing interlayer is the best option to optimize the tribological properties. On the other hand, a higher applied plasma voltage in the silicon interlayer deposition guarantees high critical loads for DLC delamination and low density of defects without delamination events at the sample edges. This knowledge made possible to obtain DLC coatings for industrial applications in large scale and low cost of production.