Effect of load on the friction-wear behavior of magnetron sputtered DLC film at high temperature

A DLC (diamond-like carbon) film was deposited on a YT14 cemented carbide cutting tool by using magnetron sputtering. The surface-interfacial morphologies, chemical composition, and phases of the obtained DLC film were analyzed by using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction, respectively. The friction and wear characteristics of the DLC film were investigated under different loads, the distribution of the chemical elements on the worn tracks were analyzed by using a plane scan analysis, and the wear mechanism of the DLC film was also examined. The results showed that the DLC particles were uniformly covered on the substrate with a thickness of about 600 nm, and the diamond peaks at the crystal face of (1 1 1), and (2 2 0) appear at diffraction angles of 44.40, and 75.52 degrees, respectively. The average coefficients of friction of the DLC film under loads of 2, 4, and 6 N were 0.65, 0.65, and 0.49, respectively, and the corresponding wear rates were 0.33 x 10(-9), 0.26 x 10(-9), and 0.25 x 10(-9) mm(3) N-1 s(-1), respectively. Therefore, the film represents outstanding reducing friction and wear resistance. With the increasing wear loads, the atomic fraction of C decreased, while that of O increased; the oxidation reaction occurred in the wear test. The wear mechanisms under a load of 2 N were abrasive wear, adhesive wear and oxidation wear, while that under a load of 4 N were adhesive wear and oxidation wear, and that under the load of 6 N were only oxidation wear.