Tribological behavior of multilayer a-C:H:W films with different modulation ratios at wide temperatures

Although various strategies have been developed to enhance the high-temperature tribological performance of amorphous carbon films, challenges remain, including the deterioration of tribological properties (increased coefficient of friction and wear) in the mid-temperature range, and a limited the maximum service temperature. In this study, a series of multilayer a-C:H:W films with different modulation ratios were prepared, and their friction and wear characteristics were systematically investigated against Al 2 O 3 balls at various temperatures. The results demonstrate that the multilayer a-C:H:W film with a modulation ratio of 0.5 exhibits superior oxidation resistance compared to single-layer films, achieving both low friction and low wear over a wide temperature range. The incorporation of tungsten facilitates the formation of WO 3 at 500 ℃, which effectively reduces the coefficient of friction during high-temperature lubrication and raises the critical temperature for stable lubrication. In summary, this multilayer a-C:H:W film shows significant potential for addressing high-temperature wear challenges in mechanical components operating under severe conditions.