Molecular dynamics simulations of friction process between diamond-like carbon and Si-DLC films

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films have been extensively studied over the past decades due to their unique combination of properties; in particular, silicon-doped DLC (Si-DLC) films are of significant interest for tribological effects, they had a very low friction coefficient and possessed the potential to improve wear performance in humid atmospheres and at higher temperatures. But many experimental results of the Si-DLC films showed that their tribological properties changed greatly on different silicon content. In the paper, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to study microstructure of amorphous Si-DLC films and a sliding friction process between DLC and Si-DLC films on un-lubricated and oil-lubricated conditions respectively. The results show that silicon atoms are almost surrounded by carbon atoms in all Si-DLC films. The sp3/sp2 ratio in Si-DLC films increases with the increasing silicon content. After sliding, a transfer film between the DLC and Si-DLC films is formed on the un-lubricated condition. In contrast, a boundary lubrication layer is found on the oil-lubricated condition. Moreover, the friction forces on the un-lubricated condition are larger than those on the oil-lubricated condition.