Evaluation of DLC Coating for Parts of Weapons and Military Equipment

Abstract

The article deals with tribological evaluation of DLC coating. This coating is deposited on a material which, due to its mechanical properties, is suitable for components of weapons and military equipment. The results of the Department of Engineering of the Faculty of Military Technology of the University of Defense in Brno in the field of plasma nitriding are used in this work. Plasma nitriding technology has been found to have a positive effect on the performance of components operating under extreme conditions. One of the significant surface changes is the increase in surface hardness. Further increases wear resistance and corrosion resistance. By setting the parameters of plasma nitriding technology appropriately, fatigue life can be increased.Deposition of the DLC coating by PVD technology on a tempered or plasma nitrided surface results in qualitative changes on the surface of the component. Evaluation of tribological properties such as coefficient of friction or wear coefficient can be verified by adjusting surface treatment technologies to specific applications, eg in armaments production.The paper presents the results of tribological properties of the surface of the DLC coating deposited on substrate of the heat-treated steel 42CrMo4. The comparison was done with the deposition of a DLC coating on the surface substrate of a steel 42CrMo4 that has been plasma nitrided, like a duplex system. Tribological properties such as friction coefficient and wear coefficient were measured by a Tribolab UMT-3 equipment. Tribological tests such as Scratch test and Ball on Disc were performed on this device.

Improving of 100Cr6 Steel Corrosion and Wear Properties in Simulated Sea Water Environment by Tungsten-Doped DLC Coating

“…The final performance of PVD coatings is in general sensitive to the type of substrate material, process temperature [ 8 ], surface roughness [ 9 ], coating thickness [ 10 , 11 ], surface cleanliness, and so on. Despite the sensitivity of the process, PVD and especially DLC coatings were already well adapted in industries such as military equipment [ 12 ].…”

Operational properties of DLC coatings and their potential application

“…Applying diamondlike coatings to military equipment (e.g. firearm barrels) is particularly interesting [11].…”