Deposition, structure and tribological behavior of silver–carbon nanocomposite coatings

Silver–carbon nanocomposite coatings were deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition and d.c. magnetron sputtering of a silver target. Coatings with various metal concentrations were prepared by changing of acetylene and argon gas mixture ratio (C2H2/Ar), and concentrations of more than 40 at.%Ag was achieved in this study. Transmission electron microscope revealed that silver metallic grains with typically 15 nm were dispersed in amorphous carbon host matrix. Size of the grains increased with decrease of the gas mixture ratio due to secondary or triangularly formed metal grains. Tribological behavior of the coatings was investigated using reciprocating tribometer with in-situ electrical contact resistance measurement. Low and stable friction coefficient was achieved in the specimen with relatively low Ag concentration. Elemental mapping results on the ball after the friction tests reveal that tribofilm was formed on the ball when low and stable friction was achieved, and the tribofilm was mainly composed of C and Ag. It can be concluded that formation of the tribofilm is necessary for achieving low and stable friction.