Surface Modification by a Graded Carbon Thin Film for Better Tribological and Anti-oxidation Properties

An ultra-thin film of carbon using filtered cathodic vacuum arc technique with a graded structure in the top layer (≤ 1.5 nm) of a cobalt surface is evaluated for its tribological and anti-oxidation properties. Ion energies of 60 eV and 90 eV respectively are used in succession to achieve carbon embedding in the top layer of the cobalt surface. The modified cobalt surface showed a low coefficient of friction of ~ 0.2 when compared to the bare cobalt surface (~ 0.7). The modified surface showed a significant improvement in the oxidation resistance as well.