Properties of Coatings Based on Carbon and Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Obtained Using a Pulsed Vacuum Arc Method

Abstract

Diamond-like carbon coatings on hard-alloy substrates, including coatings doped with nitrogen about 1.0 μm thick have been obtained using a pulse vacuum-arc method. Three types of coatings have been investigated: a carbon diamond-like coating (C), a carbon coating doped with nitrogen (C: N), and a composite coating based on (C: N + C) layers. The coatings have been annealed in atmospheric air at a temperature of 400°C. The tribological characteristics (wear resistance and friction coefficient change dynamics), the adhesion strength, and the microhardness of coatings in the initial state and after annealing have been studied. The composite coating consisting of C: N + C layers surpasses the constituent coatings in properties, both in the initial state and after annealing at a temperature of 400°C.