LOW FRICTION DIAMOND FILMS FOR HIGH PAYOFF CERAMIC BEARINGS APPLICATIONS

THE ABILITY TO DEPOSIT HIGH QUALITY DIAMOND FILMS USING PLASMA ENHANCED CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION (CVD) OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE TRIBOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MATERIALS. IN THIS PROGRAM, TECHNOLOGIESFOR DEPOSITING DIAMOND THIN FILMS WITH A VARIETY OF MICROSTRUCTURAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS ARE BEING DEVELOPED. THESE FILMS WILL BE TESTED TO INVESTIGATE SOME OF THE KEY STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF DIAMOND FILMS THAT INFLUENCE THEIR FRICTION COEFFICIENTS AND WEAR BEHAVIOR. ANAPPROACH FOR REDUCING THE FRICTION FOEFFICIENT OF THE FILMS IS ALSO BEING TESTED. THE FILMS ARE BEING DEPOSITED ON BOTH SINGLE CRYSTAL SILICON AND ON POLYCRYSTALLINE SILICON CARBIDE. DIAMOND DEPOSITION ON SILICON CARBIDE PROVIDES THE NEEDED DATA FOR SUBSEQUENT DIAMOND COATING OF SILICON CARBIDE BEARINGS. COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS OF HARD DIAMOND FILM COATINGS INCLUDE TOOLS SUCH AS INSERTS, DRILLS, PUNCHES, NOZZLES; WEAR SURFACES IN INDUSTRIAL PROCESS CONTROL EQUIPMENT; AND AUTOMOTIVE AND AIRCRAFT APPLICATIONS.