Nanoindentation and AFM studies of PECVD DLC and reactively sputtered Ti containing carbon films

Abstract

Amorphous carbon film, bdalso known as DLC film, bdis a promising material for tribological application. It is noted that properties relevant to tribological application change significantly depending on the method of preparation of these films. These properties are also altered by the composition of the films. In view of this, bdthe objective of the present work is to compare the nanoindentation and atomic force microscopy (AFM) study of diamond like carbon (DLC) film obtained by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (bdPECVD with the Ti containing amorphous carbon (Ti/a- C : H) film obtained by unbalanced magnetron sputter deposition (UMSD). Towards that purpose, DLC and Ti/a- C : H films are deposited on silicon substrate by PECVD and UMSD processes, respectively. The microstructural features and the mechanical properties of these films are evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), bdtransmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoindentation and by AFM. The results show that the PECVD DLC film has a higher elastic modulus, hardness and roughness than the UMSD Ti/a- C : H film. It also has a lower pull off force than Ti containing amorphous carbon film.