Effects of Different Plasma Nitrided Layers on the Tribological Performance of DLC Coatings

When multifunctional surface engineering processes that combine purpose-oriented phases are applied to soft substrates, a combination of high wear resistance, high load support and low coefficients of friction can be achieved. In this study, the effects of different nitrided layers on the tribological behaviour of a diamond-like carbon (DLC) film deposited on a SAE 1040 steel were investigated. The nitriding was carried out under different temperatures and gas mixtures to create three distinct nitrided layers: two compound layers with predominant ε and γ' phases and a diffusion layer. All of...