Short note on improved integration of mechanical testing in predictive wear models

In this work, a new global increment nano-fretting wear model based on the effective indenter concept has been used and the results were compared with experimental data. A series of DLC coatings with varied mechanical properties was deposited using industrial scale PECVD system and characterised on a low-drift nanomechanical test platform (NanoTest Vantage). 4500 cycle nano-scale fretting measurements have been performed in order to examine the tribological properties of the coatings. A physical analysis of the nanoindentation test enabled the true coating Young's Modulus (E) and the coating yield strength (Y) to be determined. In comparison to the hardness (H) this is the basis for a more generic understanding of the mechanical coating behaviour. This allowed a direct examination of the influence of the variation of Y/E in the coatings on the observed nano-fretting wear, with the coating with highest Y/E showing significantly improved resistance to nano-fretting wear. A preliminary evaluation of the stress field evolution during the test and the extraction of wear and fretting parameters provides the opportunity to discuss the effects possibly being dominant within the nano-scale tribo-tests.