Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Laser Structuring and DLC Coating of Elastomers for High Performance Applications

Version 1 : Received: 17 March 2022 / Approved: 23 March 2022 / Online: 23 March 2022 (04:32:51 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Vogel, S.; Brenner, A.; Schlüter, B.; Blug, B.; Kirsch, F.; Roo, T.V. Laser Structuring and DLC Coating of Elastomers for High Performance Applications. Materials 2022, 15, 3271. Vogel, S.; Brenner, A.; Schlüter, B.; Blug, B.; Kirsch, F.; Roo, T.V. Laser Structuring and DLC Coating of Elastomers for High Performance Applications. Materials 2022, 15, 3271.

Abstract

Even though hard, low friction coatings such as diamond like carbon (DLC) would be beneficial for the per-formance and longevity of rubber seals, a crucial challenge – as graphically illustrated in Figure 1.a – remains. The elastic mismatch of rubber substrate and DLC coating prevents a fracture free coating application. In this work a nature inspired approach (Figure 1.b) 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.

Keywords

diamond like carbon; DLC; Tribology; rubber; flexible; nature inspired; coating; friction; sealing; delamination

Subject

Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

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