Electrodeposition of diamond-like carbon (DLC) films on Ti

Diamond-like carbon films (DLC) were deposited on titanium substrates in acetonitrile and N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) liquids by the liquid-phase electrodeposition technique at ambient pressure and temperature. The applied voltage between the electrodes was high (1200 V) due to the use of resistive organic liquids. The surface morphology was examined by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Corrosion performance of the coatings was investigated by potentiodynamic polararization tests in phosphate buffer saline solution. Raman spectroscopy analysis of the films revealed two broad bands at approximately 1360 cm−1 and 1580 cm−1, related to D and G-band of DLC, respectively. The coated Ti was tested in a ball-on-plate type wear test machine with Al2O3 balls. The films presented a low friction coefficient (about 0.1), and the films deposited from DMF presented the best wear resistance.