Feasibility of wear reduction for soft nanostructured thin film through enhanced elastic recoverability and contact stress relief

Abstract This work shows that a soft, thin film comprising randomly aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can reduce surface wear more effectively than homogeneous because of enhanced elastic recoverability and contact stress relief originating from its mesh structure. To investigate the characteristics structure compared to those film, multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) diamond-like (DLC) films were prepared conduct nanoscale tribological experiments using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The MWCNT showed unmeasurably low with DLC under certain range normal load. demonstrate reduction mechanism indentation frictional behaviors assessed. behavior revealed repetitive deformation wide strain significantly lower modulus film. permanent was observed through relatively high load conditions. These results are expected provide insights into design highly wear-resistant surfaces nanostructures.