Tribological behavior and topography of friction surfaces of diamond-like coatings in contact with steel, silicon nitride, and quartz glass

Abstract

The paper presents the study results of the tribological behavior and surface topography formed at friction of diamond-like coatings against indenters made of silicon nitride, quartz glass, and steel. It is shown that the tribological behavior depends on the nature and hardness of the counterbody material whose wear causes changes in the surface topography of the diamond-like coating at the nanometer level. At friction of the diamond-like coating against the silicon nitride indenter surface asperities are deformed plastically and the deformation rate is governed by the coating structure.