Bonding, interfacial effects and adhesion in dlc

Abstract

Metastable, amorphous carbon films, also referred to as diamond-like carbon (DLC), are prepared in a large variety of deposition conditions. Depending upon the conditions, DLC films may contain large amounts of hydrogen, and are referred to as hydrogenated amorphous carbon. The properties of DLC are strongly dependent on the preparation conditions and upon the amount of hydrogen incorporated in the film. Due to its extreme hardness, DLC can be used as a wear protective coating, while its chemical inertness to acids and alkali's make it suitable for protection against chemical attack. The optical transparency of the DLC over a large region of the spectrum makes it useful as a protective coating of optical components. However, hydrogenated DLC is usually also characterized by very high compressive stresses. Its application as a protective coating therefore requires strong adhesive bonds to the coated surface. The paper reviews structural and optical properties of DLC films and means of improving their adhesion to metallic surfaces. © 1989 SPIE.