Influence of adhesion strength on cavitation erosion resistance of diamond-like carbon coating

Abstract

Purpose

The disbonding of DLC coating is a main failure mode in the high-speed cavitation condition, which shortens the service life of the bearing. This study aims to investigate influence of adhesion strength on cavitation erosion resistance of DLC coating.

Design/methodology/approach

Three DLC coatings with different adhesion strengths were grown on the 304 steel surfaces by using a cathodic arc plasma deposition method. Cavitation tests were performed by using a vibratory test rig to investigate the influence of adhesion strength on cavitation erosion resistance of a DLC coating. The cavitation mechanism of the substrate-coating systems was further discussed by means of surface analyses.

Findings

The results indicated that, the residual stress decreased and then increased with the increasing DLC coating thickness from 1 µm to 2.9 µm, and the lower residual stress can improve the adhesion strength of the DLC coating to the substrate. It was also concluded that, the plastic deformation as well as the fracture occurred on the DLC coating surface at the same time, owing to higher residual stress and poorer adhesion strength. However, lower residual stress and better adhesion strength could help resist the occurrence of the coating fracture.

Originality/value

Cavitation tests were performed by using a vibratory test rig to investigate the influence of adhesion strength on cavitation erosion resistance of the DLC coating. The plastic deformation and the fracture occurred on the DLC coating surface at the same time, owing to higher residual stress and poorer adhesion of coating. Lower residual stress and better adhesion of coating could resist the occurrence of the DLC coating fracture.

Citation

Cheng, F., Ji, W. and Zhao, J. (2019), "Influence of adhesion strength on cavitation erosion resistance of diamond-like carbon coating", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 71 No. 5, pp. 724-730. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-01-2019-0024