Study of the Mechanical Characteristics of Single-Layer and Multilayer Nanostructures Based on Carbon and Fluorocarbon Coatings

Abstract

The results of studying the nanohardness and Young’s modulus of single-layer and multilayer nanostructured barrier layers prepared by methods of ion-plasma technology on the basis of carbon and fluorocarbon coatings, which are formed on the surface of polystyrene in the region of transitional-process modes (transition from etching to film deposition), are described. Fluorocarbon films formed in the region of transitional-process modes exhibit an antiadhesive effect against microorganisms and can be used to prevent the biodegradation of polymers. After exposure to CF4 ions and the deposition of a single-layer carbon or fluorocarbon coating and a multilayer coating in the region of transitional-process modes, the Young’s modulus values are significantly (2–3 times) higher than the values of pure polystyrene. For the samples with a sublayer deposited at an accelerating voltage between the anode and the cathode in an II-4-0.15 ion source of 3 kV, the nanohardness increases by 1.5 times; at an accelerating voltage of 2 kV, the nanohardness decreases. This finding can be attributed to the fact that, at an accelerating voltage of 2 kV, the diamond phase content in the deposited film decreases.