Developments and Applications of Diamond-Like Carbon

Abstract

Carbonous material always promotes the development of human being’s civilization. The diamond-like carbon (DLC) is one of the new kinds of materials. In the past fifty years, DLC has reached the level of semi-industrialization. From the unintentional discovery of DLC to the booming study all over the world, and then to the wide use in various fields, DLC has become a symbol of the era. In order to study the relationship between the structure and properties of DLC, researchers have been working on its classification and puting forward its theoretical model. Preparation technologies of DLC have been improving continuously. Nowadays there are some popular technologies such as the unbalanced magnetron sputtering technology, the electron cyclotron resonance radio frequency technology, the femtosecond laser technology, and the meshed plasma immersion ion deposition technology. The application field of DLC has expanded from simple life products to the field of machinery precision cutting tools, precision molds, medical devices and implants, and the aerospace field. Although DLC has developed a lot in the area of industrial application, there are some problems about its connection between technological parameter and performance. In this paper, the development history, structure, preparation methods, development status and the research prospects of DLC coatings are introduced in detail.