Investigation of Tribological Behavior in Dlc-Coated Thermosensitive Polymers Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Abstract

Micro- and nanoscale friction and adhesion behaviors of flexible polymer surfaces were systematically explored, focusing on their mechanical and tribological properties under varying environmental conditions. Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings on polymer substrates were evaluated for enhancing wear resistance and reducing friction. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments revealed distinct friction and wear mechanisms for DLC-coated versus uncoated PET surfaces. Under high-temperature (80 °C) and high-humidity (50% RH) conditions, uncoated PET exhibited wear depths around 60 nm, whereas DLC-coated PET showed only 3 nm, attributed to the coating’s high hardness and low friction. These findings suggest that DLC coatings significantly improve environmental adaptability and wear resistance of flexible polymers, offering theoretical support for their application in high-precision manufacturing.

Keywords: Nanoimprint lithography， Atomic force microscopy， Wear resistance， Nano-scratch， DLC coating