Publication: Comparative nano-tribological characteristics of ta-c nanocomposites thin film with different type of seed layer on aluminium alloy 7075-t6
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Date
2023-07-01
Authors
Nur Syahirah Binti Sahari
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Abstract
Tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) thin films have gained significant attention due to their low coefficient of friction (CoF) and exceptional hardness, making them highly desirable in various industries. However, the influence of different seed layers on the nano-tribological performance of ta-C thin films remains poorly understood. In this study, Aluminum alloy 7075-T6 samples were coated with ta-C using two different seed layers: Titanium (Ti) and Chromium (Cr). Each seed layer had three thicknesses: 3μm (single rotation), 2μm (double rotation), and 1μm (triple rotation). The coating was deposited using the Filtered Cathodic Vacuum Arc (FCVA) method in a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) machine. The tribological and mechanical properties of the coatings were evaluated using a pin-on-disc tester under dry sliding conditions for 100 seconds. The resulting wear tracks were examined using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to measure the width of the wear. Additionally, nanoindentation tests were performed with a loading and unloading rate of 10 mN/s and a maximum load of 500 mN, including a hold time of 6 seconds. The results showed that the ta-C+Ti DR (double rotation) thin film exhibited excellent wear resistance at room temperature, attributed to its high hardness (0.405066 Gpa) and strong adhesion. Even at high temperatures of 550◦C, the ta-C+Ti DR thin film demonstrated superior performance, maintaining the highest hardness compared to other thin films. SEM images revealed minimal wear with a width of approximately 100 micrometers for the ta-C+Ti DR thin film, while the other thin films exhibited wear widths ranging from 2-4 mm. The excellent wear resistance and strong adhesion of ta-C+Ti DR suggest its potential as a high-quality ta-C thin film for Aluminum Alloy 7075-T6.