Reducing Wear and Friction of CVD Diamond Films

Progress has been achieved in continuing research directed toward increasing the wear resistance and enhancing the self- lubrication properties of chemical-vapor-deposited (CVD) diamond films. Such films are potentially useful as friction- and wear-reducing coats on sliding mechanical components (e.g., seals, gears, and journal bearings). A major issue that has been addressed in this research is the variation of the friction and wear properties of CVD diamond with environment: In air, CVD diamond exhibits a low coefficient of friction and high resistance to wear; in vacuum, it exhibits a high coefficient of friction and low resistance to wear. In three experimental studies, it was found that friction and wear of CVD diamond films in both vacuum and air can be reduced by use of suitable surface treatments.