Characteristics and tribological performance of DLC and Si-DLC films deposited on nitrile rubber

► DLC and Si-DLC films with and without Si-C interlayers are deposited on NBR P559. ► Deposition was by a closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering ion plating system. ► The FWHM of G peak for the films with Si-C interlayer tends towards lower values. ► Inclusion of Si-C interlayer results in increasing values for ID/IG. ► Hydrophobic surfaces characterise the DLC and Si-DLC films.