Decorative a-C:H coatings

a-C:H coatings on stainless steel sheets were prepared for decorative purposes by RF PACVD method. The silicon and nitrogen were introduced into coatings for improving adhesion. Adhesion was tested by scratchtest and by static indentation. Hardness was investigated by nanoindentation. Chemical composition of coatings was measured by ERDA. Coatings with thickness 1.3 μm have approximately the same morphology as the substrate.