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Low Friction of Diamond-Like Carbon Film Due to Liquid Hydrocarbon Generated by Laser Heating in a Nitrogen Gas Environment

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Abstract

In this study, we investigated the low friction mechanism of a diamond-like carbon (DLC) film heated by laser irradiation in a nitrogen gas environment. The friction coefficient decreased from 0.5 to 0.06 when the contact area was heated to 250 °C. Subsequently, we heated the DLC film under non-contact conditions (2 μm distance between DLC film and pin surface) and collected the liquid materials adhered on the pin surface. The adhered materials were revealed to be hydrocarbons with –CH2– main-chains, as observed using Raman spectroscopy. On the other hand, thermal desorption gas chromatography with mass spectrometry using helium as a carrier gas demonstrated that hydrocarbons such as alkenes and alkanes with relatively high molecular weight were generated from heated DLC. This agreement between the results of the two analysis techniques suggested that the hydrocarbons in the liquid phase at room temperature were generated from the DLC film heated to a high temperature over 250 °C in an inert gas atmosphere. In addition, we confirmed the reduction in the friction coefficient after pre-heating a different location, as well as the dependence of the friction coefficient on the sliding velocity. The results suggest that hydrocarbons (e.g., alkenes or alkanes) generated upon DLC heating could possibly act as a lubricant to reduce the friction coefficient.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, Kansai University, 3-3-35, Yamate-cho, Suita-shi, Osaka, 564-8680, Japan

    H. Tani, R. Lu, S. Koganezawa & N. Tagawa

  2. Graduate School of Kansai University, 3-3-35, Yamate-cho, Suita-shi, Osaka, 564-8680, Japan

    R. Naito

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  1. H. Tani
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  2. R. Naito
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Tani, H., Naito, R., Lu, R. et al. Low Friction of Diamond-Like Carbon Film Due to Liquid Hydrocarbon Generated by Laser Heating in a Nitrogen Gas Environment. Tribol Lett 68, 88 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-020-01333-6

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