Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T07:51:00.679Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Morphological Control of Diamond Thin Films: Its Influence on Friction and Wear

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

Andrew L. Yee
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science & EngineeringNorthwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
Hockchun Ong
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science & EngineeringNorthwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
R. P. H. Chang
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science & EngineeringNorthwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
Get access

Abstract

Microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition was used to grow diamond films with different morphologies and surface roughnesses. With the proper choice of deposition parameters (111) faceted, octahedral, flat (100) and microcrystalline diamond films were obtained. Scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and stylus profilometry were used to assess the surface topography for each type of film. Raman spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction were also used to determine the purity of the diamond phase and growth orientation of the films, respectively. Single pass friction and wear tests were conducted on each film in order to determine the effect of surface morphology on the coefficient of friction and wear of the counterface materials and/or diamond films. Counterface materials included alumina, tungsten carbide, zirconia, and the (100) face of a synthetic diamond single crystal. Results showed a decrease in the coefficient of friction as the film roughness decreased. Specific wear of the non-diamond counterface materials showed a marked decrease for the flatter and smoother diamond surfaces. For diamond on diamond, the coefficient of friction also decreased as film topography became smoother. Wear of the diamond films occurred by fracture or shearing of asperity tips which was most severe for the rougher films. Control of diamond morphology is shown to be of paramount importance in tribological applications in order to reduce abrasive wear, material transfer, and diamond film fracturing.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Seal, M., Ind. Diam. Rev. 25, 111 (1965).Google Scholar
2. Tabor, D., in The Properties of Diamond, edited by Field, J. E. (Academic Press, London, 1979) pp. 325350.Google Scholar
3. Gardos, M.N. and Soriano, B.L., J. Mater. Res. 5, 2599 (1990).Google Scholar
4. Perry, S.S., Ager, J.W. III and Somorjai, G.A., J. Mater. Res. 8, 2577 (1993).Google Scholar
5. Kohzaki, M., Higuchi, K., Noda, S. and Uchida, K., J. Mater. Res. 7, 1769 (1992).Google Scholar
6. Miyoshi, K., Wu, R.L.C., Barscadden, A., Barnes, P.N., and Jackson, H.E., J. Appl. Phys. 74, 4446 (1993).Google Scholar
7. Gupta, B.K., Malshe, A., Bhushan, B. and Subramaniam, V.V., J. of Tribology 116, 445 (1994).Google Scholar
8. Lai, C., Wang, Y.C., Lu, P., Wachtman, J.B. Jr. and Siegel, G.H. Jr, Mater. Sci. Eng. A183, 257 (1994).Google Scholar
9. Jahanmir, S., Deckman, D. E., Ives, L.K., Feldman, A. and Farabaugh, E., Wear 133 73 (1989).Google Scholar
10. Gangopadhyay, A.K. and Tamor, M.A., Wear 169, 221 (1993).Google Scholar
11. Meilunas, R., Wong, M.S., Ong, T.P., and Chang, R.P.H., in Laser and Particle-Beam Modification of Chemical Processes on Surfaces, edited by Johnson, A.W., Loper, G.L., and Sigmon, T.W. (Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 129, Pittsburgh, PA, 1989), p. 533.Google Scholar
12. Bull, S.J., Chalker, P.R., Johnston, C., Moore, V., Surf. Coat. Technol. 68/69, 603 (1994).Google Scholar
13. Yee, A.L., Ong, H.C., Chang, R.P.H. to be published, in Fourth International Symposium on Diamond Materials at the 187th Meeting of the Electrochemical Society, Reno, NV, May 21–26, 1995.Google Scholar