Structure and mechanical properties of composite titanium-carbon coatings formed by the combined method

The features of the structure, phase composition and mechanical properties (nanohardness, Young's modulus, friction and wear coefficients) of composite titanium-carbon coatings deposited by the ion-plasma method in a hydrocarbon gas atmosphere at different pressures are considered. It was found that carbon titanium-containing coatings deposited in a hydrocarbon gas environment are characterized by a lower degree of structural ordering and a lower size of Csp$^2$ clusters as compared to coatings formed in the absence of hydrocarbon gas. In this case, a significant decrease in roughness and a decrease in microhardness are recorded. It is shown that when C$_3$H$_8$ is introduced into the chamber up to pressures not exceeding $6.7\times10^{-2}$ Pa, there is a sharp decrease in the coefficient of friction (to values of $0,15$) and wear of the counterbody ($0,023\times10^{-13}$ [m$^3$ (N$\times$m)]). With a further increase in the pressure of the reactive gas, an increase in the coefficient of friction and wear of the counterbody are observed.