Magneto-Optically Guided and Fully Ionized Metal/Carbon Arc Plasma Source for Thin Film Coatings to Control, Wear, and Fretting

摘要

This report results from a contract tasking Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology as follows: The current project is directed toward developing the curvalence arc plasma source of carbon and metal plasma for producing tribological films. This includes plasma source design, study, and optimization to operate with graphite, aluminum, and zirconium targets, and to produce low friction and hard diamond-like carbon (DLC), alumina, and zirconia films. A study of plasma properties, including ionization state, density, and energy distributions will be performed. The results will be used to manufacture a demonstration system with an optimized plasma source by the KIPT. This system will be used by the KIPT to study plasma characteristics in tribological material synthesis and prepare samples of tribological films for evaluation at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFRL, WPAFB) , Ohio. The system will be then transferred to AFRL, WPAFB together with required power supplies, control modules, and design documentation for installation, testing, and on-site technology demonstration. Specifically, the use of the technology in production of DLC films with a high percentage of sp3 electronic hybridization, synthesis of cubic BN, deposition of crystalline metals, oxides, carbides, and nitrides at low substrate temperatures, and production of nanocomposite materials made of nanocrystalline and amorphous phase% will be the focus of the seminars.