Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology

The Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers (대한기계학회)
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Nano-Mechanical and Tribological Characteristics of Ultra-Thin Amorphous Carbon Film Investigated by AFM

  • Chung, Koo-Hyun (School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University) ;
  • Lee, Jae-Won (School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University) ;
  • Kim, Dae-Eun (School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University)
  • Published : 2004.10.01
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Abstract

The mechanical as well as tribological characteristics of coating films as thin as a few nm become more crucial as applications in micro-systems grow. Especially, the amorphous carbon film has a potential to be used as a protective layer for micro-systems. In this work, quantitative evaluation of nano-indentation, scratching, and wear tests were performed on the 7nm thick amorphous carbon film using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). It was shown that AFM-based nano-indentation using a diamond coated tip can be feasibly utilized for mechanical characterization of ultra-thin films. Also, it was found that the critical load where the failure of the carbon film occurred was about 18${\mu}$N by the ramp load scratch test. Finally, the wear experimental results showed that the quantitative wear rate of the carbon film ranged 10$\^$-9/～10$\^$-8/ ㎣ /N cycle. These experimental methods can be effectively utilized for a better understanding the mechanical and tribological characteristics at the nano-scale.

Keywords

References

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