Tribology of Diamondlike Carbon and Related Materials: An Updated Review

Diamondlike carbon (DLC) has been studied for many years as a wear resistant material with low friction co-efficient. Its tribological behavior is strongly affected by the tribotesting environment and is controlled by tribochemical effects, which may in turn be dependent on the technique used for the deposition of films. New variations of DLC films, with various dopings, and new deposition methods have been investigated in recent years. The paper presents an updated review of the tribological properties of DLC and related materials and discusses the mechanisms suggested for the explanation of the wear and friction behavior of these materials.