A critical review of diamond like carbon coating for wear resistance applications

Abstract In recent years innovation in carbon based materials have encouraged both researchers as well as industrialists to develop materials/composites with improved tribological properties. Researchers have been fascinated to develop diamond like carbon (DLC) or carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reinforced coatings to their good corrosion resistance, excellent wear resistance, good adhesion strength, and self -lubricious nature. The present review article is mainly focused on various techniques employed in order to process DLC/CNTs coatings as well as provide a summary of DLC/CNTs deposition on different substrates. The present study includes major types, properties and tribological behavior of carbon based materials and mechanisms involved in coating deposition. The study also discusses that deposition of DLC/CNTs coatings on the substrate materials enhances the wear, corrosion and mechanical properties of the substrate.