• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.20 no.11
• /
• pp.570-574
• /
• 2010

A diamond-like carbon (DLC) film deposited on a WC disk was investigated to improve disk wear resistance for injection molding of zirconia optical ferrule. The deposition of DLC films was performed using the filtered vacuum arc ion plating (FV-AIP) system with a graphite target. The coating processing was controlled with different deposition times and the other conditions for coating, such as input power, working pressure, substrate temperature, gas flow, and bias voltage, were fixed. The coating layers of DLC were characterized using FE-SEM, AFM, and Raman spectrometry; the mechanical properties were investigated with a scratch tester and a nano-indenter. The friction coefficient of the DLC coated on the WC was obtained using a pin-on-disk, according to the ASTM G163-99. The thickness of DLC films coated for 20 min. and 60 min. was about 750 nm and 300 nm, respectively. The surface roughness of DLC films coated for 60 min. was 5.9 nm. The Raman spectrum revealed that the G peak of DLC film was composed of $sp^3$ amorphous carbon bonds. The critical load (Lc) of DLC film obtained with the scratch tester was 14.6 N. The hardness and elastic modulus of DLC measured with the nano-indenter were 36.9 GPa and 585.5 GPa, respectively. The friction coefficient of DLC coated on WC decreased from 0.2 to 0.01. The wear property of DLC coated on WC was enhanced by a factor of 20.

• Tribology and Lubricants
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.125-131
• /
• 2016

In recent years, thick ta-C coating has attracted considerable interest owing to its existing and potential commercial importance in applications such as automobile accessories, drills, and gears. The thickness of the ta-C coating is an important parameter in these applications. However, the biggest problems are achieving efficient coating and uniformity over a large area with high-speed deposition. Feasibility is confirmed for the ta-C coating thickness of up to 9.0 µm (coating speed: 3.0 µm/h, fixed substrate) using a single FCVA cathode. The thickness was determined using multiple coating cycles that were controlled using substrate temperature and residual stresses. In the present research, we have designed a coating system using FCVA plasma and produced enhanced thick ta-C coating. The system uses a specialized magnetic field configuration with stabilized DC arc plasma discharge during deposition. To achieve quality that is acceptable for use in automobile accessories, the magnetic field, T-type filters, and 10 pieces of a multi-cathode are used to demonstrate the deposition of the thick ta-C coating. The results of coating performance indicate that uniformity is ±7.6 , deposited area is 400 mm, and the thickness of the ta-C coating is up to 5.0 µm (coating speed: 0.3 µm/h, revolution and rotation). The hardness of the coating ranges from 30 to 59 GPa, and the adhesion strength level (HF1) ranges from 20 to 60 N, depending on the ta-C coating.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2016.02a
• /
• pp.132-132
• /
• 2016

기계 가공품의 정밀화, 경량화 요구로 난색재로 분류되는 비철분야 및 복합재 가공용 공구개발에 대한 수요가 급증하고 있으나, 기존 난삭재 가공 시 절삭공구의 마모가 빠르고, 상대재의 융착 불량 등이 공구 수명 감소의 주요 영향으로 보고된다. 상기문제를 해결하기 위해 절삭가공 공정 중 과다한 절삭유의 사용에 따른 가공비용, 에너지소모 증가, 환경오염 등으로 절삭유의 최소화 또는 절삭유를 사용하지 않는 표면처리기술등의 친환경 가공기술의 개발이 필요하다. 내융착 및 내마모 특성 향상을 위한 표면코팅 방법으로 수소가 포함되지 않은 고경도 비정질 카본 (ta-C)이 있으나, ta-C 코팅 막은 경도 30 - 80 GPa, 잔류응력 3 - 10 GPa 범위로 일반 경질 코팅 막 (AlTiN, TiSiCrN : 평균 3 GPa)에 비해 높고 산업적 활용이 가능한 0.5 - 1.5 um 두께 수준의 후막화가 힘들어 매우 우수한 절삭공구용 코팅 막 특성에도 불구하고 적용사례가 매우 적다. 따라서, 본 연구에서는 아크플라즈마 방식 (Filtered Cathode Vacuum Arc Plasma, FCVA)을 활용한 고경도/무수소 카본 코팅 막을 후막형태로 증착하여 비철금속가공용 절삭 공구류의 수명향상 기법을 제시하고자 한다. ta-C 코팅 막의 기초 공정개발 단계에서는 바이어스 전압, 공정시간을 달리하여 ta-C 코팅 막의 기계적 물성(경도: $50{\pm}3GPa$, 잔류응력: $6{\pm}1GPa$, 밀착력: 30N 이상 및 트라이볼로지 특성: 마찰계수 0.1 이하, 마멸량: $1.85{\times}10-14mm^3$)을 확보하여 절삭공구로의 공정실용화 적용검토를 실시하였다. ta-C 코팅 막은 (1) WC 공구 및 기존 상용품인 (2) TiAlN/TiN/WC 구조에 대해 증착을 실시하였으며 코팅 막의 두께 변화에 따른 실제 절삭환경에서의 내수명 관측을 진행하였다. 시험결과, ta-C/WC의 단일막 구조인 절삭공구의 경우, 실제 절삭환경에서 쉽게 박리가 발생하여 코팅 막으로서의 효과를 나타내지 못하였다. 이는, 기초 공정개발 단계에서의 밀착력 기준이 실제 환경과 부합하지 않는 것을 의미하며 추후 공정개선을 통해 극복하고자 한다. 반면에, 상용품인 (2) TiAlN/TiN/WC 구조의 절삭공구 대비 ta-C/TiAlN/TiN/WC 구조에서 내수명 증가는 약 2.5배 (기존 300회, 코팅 후 800회)로 증가하였으며 ta-C 코팅 막의 두께가 $0.6-0.8{\mu}m$일 때 최대치를 취한 후 감소하였다. 이를 통해, 절삭공구로의 ta-C 코팅 막 효과는 최외각 층의 두께 범위와 모재 강도보강을 할 수 있는 적절한 중간층 막 (TiN/TiAlN 층)이 혼합되어 나타난 것으로 사료되며 현재 산업계로의 적용을 위한 대량생산용 코팅장비의 개발 및 비용절감을 위한 공정개발이 진행 중이다.

• Tribology and Lubricants
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.362-368
• /
• 2019

In this study, mechanical and tribological properties were investigated by varying the process temperature (50, 100, 125 and 150℃) to reduce internal stress. The internal stress reduction by thermal dissociation ta-C coating film with increasing temperature is confirmed through the curvature radius of the ta-C coating according to the temperature of the SUS plate. As the coating temperature increased, the mechanical properties (hardness, modulus, toughness) deteriorated, which is in agreement with the Raman analysis results. As the temperature increased, the sp² phase ratio increased owing to the dissociation of the sp³ phase. The friction and wear properties are related to the process temperature during ta-C coating. Low friction and wear properties are observed in high hardness samples manufactured at 50℃, and wear resistance properties decreased with increasing temperature. The contact area is expected to increase owing to the decrease of hardness(72 GPa to 39 GPa) and fracture toughness with increasing temperature which accelerated wear because of the debris generated. It was confirmed that at process temperature of over than 100℃, the bond structure of the carbon film changed, and the effect of excellent internal stress was reduced. However, the wear resistance simultaneously decreased owing to the reduction in fracture toughness. Therefore, in order to increase industrial utilization, optimum temperature conditions that reduce internal stress and retain mechanical properties.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
• /
• 2016.11a
• /
• pp.156-156
• /
• 2016

The effect of nitrogen doping on the mechanical and tribological performance of single-layer tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C:N) coatings of up to $1{\mu}m$ in thickness was investigated using a custom-made filtered cathode vacuum arc (FCVA). The results obtained revealed that the hardness of the coatings decreased from $65{\pm}4.8GPa$ to $25{\pm}2.4GPa$ with increasing nitrogen gas ratio, which indicates that nitrogen doping occurs through substitution in the $sp^2$ phase. Subsequent AES analysis showed that the N/C ratio in the ta-C:N thick-film coatings ranged from 0.03 to 0.29 and increased with the nitrogen flow rate. Variation in the G-peak positions and I(D)/I(G) ratio exhibit a similar trend. It is concluded from these results that micron-thick ta-C:N films have the potential to be used in a wide range of functional coating applications in electronics. To achieve highly conductive and wear-resistant coatings in system components, the friction and wear performances of the coating were investigated. The tribological behavior of the coating was investigated by sliding an SUJ2 ball over the coating in a ball-on-disk tribo-meter. The experimental results revealed that doping using a high nitrogen gas flow rate improved the wear resistance of the coating, while a low flow rate of 0-10 sccm increased the coefficient of friction (CoF) and wear rate through the generation of hematite (${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$) phases by tribo-chemical reaction. However, the CoF and wear rate dramatically decreased when the nitrogen flow rate was increased to 30-40 sccm, due to the nitrogen inducing phase transformation that produced a graphite-like structure in the coating. The widths of the wear track and wear scar were also observed to decrease with increasing nitrogen flow rate. Moreover, the G-peaks of the wear scar around the SUJ2 ball on the worn surface increased with increasing nitrogen doping.

• Tribology and Lubricants
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.241-246
• /
• 2018

This research addresses the improvement of tribo-systems, specifically regarding the reduction of friction and wear through tribo-coupling between tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) with different types of counterpart materials, namely bearing steel (SUJ2), tungsten carbide (WC), stainless steel (SUS304), and alumina ($Al_2O_3$). A second variable in this project is the utilization of different values of duct bias voltage in the deposition of the ta-C coating - 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 V. The results of this research are expected to determine the optimum duct bias and best counter materials associated with ta-C to produce the lowest friction and wear. Results obtained reveal that the tribo-couple between the ta-C coating and SUJ2 balls produces the lowest friction coefficient and wear rate. In terms of duct bias changes, deposition using 5 V produces the most optimum tribological behavior with lowest friction and wear on the tribo-system. In contrast, the tribo-couple between ta-C with a WC ball causes penetration through the coating surface layer and hence high surface delamination. This study demonstrates that the most effective ta-C coating duct bias is 5 V associated with SUJ2 counter material to produce the lowest friction and wear.

• Tribology and Lubricants
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.255-260
• /
• 2022

This research presents tetrahedral amorphous (ta-C) coating on the artificial tooth for improving the durability and functionality (esthtics, foreign body of tooth) by filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA). A differentiated coating method is required for a ta-C coating on polymer owing to the low melting point of the polymer, inter-facial adhesion, low friction, and non-conductivity. Herein, ta-C coating is applied below 50℃, and the potential difference of the carbon plasma drawn to the substrate was controlled by applying a positive duct bias voltage without using a substrate bias voltage. Consequently, the ta-C coating with a thickness of 70nm using the duct bias condition of 20V with the highest plasma intensity satisfies the esthetics of the artificial tooth and had a 5B level of inter-facial adhesion. In addition, the composite hardness of ta-C/polymer is 380 MPa, and correlations with esthetics, sp³ bonding, and mechanical properties. The friction coefficient (CoF) of the ta-C coating in a water-lubricated environment is 0.07, showing a six-fold reduction in CoF compared with that of a polymer.