Study of TiC/a-C(:H) Coatings Before and After Friction by Nanoindentation

This study is focused on the analysis of the surface geometry and elastic properties of carbon-based coatings, which are deposited using a high power impulse (HiPIMS) (pulsed) and direct current (DC) (non-pulsed) magnetron sputtering. The work includes friction tests, microscopic (SEM and AFM) study of the samples surfaces, their roughness before and after friction, indentation of initial and worn surfaces, and estimation of Young’s modulus of coatings before and after friction using analytical–numerical modeling. The analysis of nano-roughness by AFM shows that worn tracks are very smooth even for an initially rough surface. DC coatings have similar elastic properties before and after friction. HiPIMS coatings become more compliant after friction, which is probably due to the formation of a thin compliant film at the surface of the coatings.