Effect of fluorine incorporation on DLC films deposited by pulsed cathodic arc deposition on nitrile butadiene rubber and polyurethane rubber substrates

Abstract

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) and fluorinated diamond-like carbon (F-DLC) films were deposited via pulsed cathodic arc deposition on pretreated nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and polyurethane (PU) rubber substrates. Both DLC and F-DLC films showed a more than 50% decrease in coefficients of friction compared to uncoated NBR and PU rubber substrates. The incorporation of fluorine was found to have little influence on the film coefficient of friction. However, a decrease in film wettability was overserved in the F-DLC films compared to the DLC films.