DLC-Coated Thermoplastics: Tribological Analyses under Lubricated Rolling-Sliding Conditions

Abstract The goal of this work is to evaluate the potential diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings on thermoplastic polymers for friction and wear reduction in highly stressed rolling–sliding contacts. Therefore, hydrogen-containing DLC were deposited polymer surface by a low-temperature high power pulsed magnetron sputtering (HPPMS) physical vapor deposition (PVD) process. rolling-sliding contact between coated polyamide 66 (PA66) or polyether ether ketone (PEEK) against case-hardened steel 16MnCr5 investigated twin-disk tribometer at normal loads up F N = 1,000 N, sum velocities 1 m/s ? v ? 16 slip ratios s 50%. Results show with application considered compared uncoated under specific lubrication conditions. High solid losses caused polymer’s internal damping properties dominate temperature behavior polymer, even when DLC. Regarding behavior, especially severe mixed conditions high-solid load portion sliding. knowledge gained about can be used improve overall tribological performance terms machine elements like gears.