Laser Structuring and DLC Coating of Elastomers for High Performance Applications
Materials, vol. 15, pp. 3271
Abstract
Even though hard, low friction coatings such as diamond like carbon (DLC) would be beneficial for the performance and longevity of rubber seals, a crucial challenge remains. The elastic mismatch of rubber substrate and DLC coating prevents a fracture free coating application. In this work, a nature inspired approach is applied to render the stiff coating flexible and resilient to delamination at the same time by direct patterning. Rubber substrates were laser structured with tile patterns and subsequently DLC coated. Tensile and tribology tests were performed on structured and unstructured samples. Unstructured DLC coatings showed a crack pattern induced by the coating process, which was further fragmented by tensile stress. Coatings with tile patterns did not experience a further fragmentation under load. During continuous tribological loading, less heterogenous damage is produced for tile structured samples. The findings are ascribed to the relief of induced coating stress by the tile structure, meaning a more resilient coating.
Authors 6
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Affiliation as printed
Chair for Laser Technology LLT, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology
Affiliation as printed
Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials
Affiliation as printed
Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
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Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials
Affiliation as printed
Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
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Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability
Affiliation as printed
Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany
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Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability
Affiliation as printed
Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany
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