Tensile Stress-Strain Properties of a-C:H (Diamond-Like Carbon) thin Films

ABSTRACTFundamental mechanical properties of a-C:H (amorphous or “diamond-like” carbon, DLC) thin film coatings have been investigated. Coatings were deposited by a methane-argon RF plasma on polycarbonate films. Tensile stress-strain behavior of the coated polymer was studied using an extensometer to monitor strain. The differences in moduli between uncoated and coated samples were used to calculate apparent coating moduli, which varied from 1 GPA to 82 GPa. The mode of failure was observed via in-situ optical microscopy during deformation. Intrinsic bond strength of the coating/substrate interface was estimated from crack spacings in the deformed coating.