The investigation of the structures and tribological properties of F-DLC coatings deposited on Ti-6Al-4V alloys

• Published in: Surface & coatings technology 2017-04, Vol.316, p.22-29
• Main Authors: Wang, Junjun, Ma, Jianjun, Huang, Weijiu, Wang, Linqing, He, Haoran, Liu, Chenglong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adhesive strength; Diamond-like carbon films; Fluorine; Fluorine doped diamond-like carbon coating; Friction; Ion implantation; Mechanical properties; Mechanical property; Modulus of elasticity; Protective coatings; Saline solutions; Studies; Ti-6Al-4V alloy; Titanium base alloys; Tribological property; Tribology; Wear; Wear rate
• ISSN: 0257-8972; 1879-3347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2017.02.065

Fluorine doped diamond-like carbon (F-DLC) coatings were deposited on Ti-6Al-4V alloy using a hollow cathode plasma immersion ion implantation deposition system. The aim of this work is to investigate the influence of F content on the surface morphology, structure, mechanical and tribological properties (under air and stroke-physiological saline solution) of the F-DLC coatings. The results reveal that the ratio of H/fE instead of H/E can be well predicting the anti-wear results when the F-DLC coatings have enough adhesion strength, where H is hardness, E is Young's modulus and f is friction coefficient. The F-DLC coatings with high F content exhibit excellent tribological property under air. The low F content F-DLC coatings present super-low friction coefficient and wear rate in stroke-physiological saline solution. Reasons for the tribological property are proposed in combination with the films' morphology and mechanical property. •F doped DLC coatings were deposited on Ti-6Al-4V alloy using a HCPIII method.•The ratio of H/fE can be well predicting the F-DLC coatings' anti-wear results.•The low F content F-DLC coatings present excellent tribological properties in SPSS.