Hydrogen content switching the temperature dependence of tribological performance of diamond-like carbon by shifting the dominant wear mechanism

Impact Factor:7.6

DOI number:10.1016/j.triboint.2026.112449

Affiliation of Author(s):西南交通大学

Teaching and Research Group:智能制造工程

Journal:Tribology International

Abstract:Hydrogenated diamond-like carbon (H-DLC) films are promising solid lubricants, yet their tribological performance changes unpredictably with temperature, making optimal material selection challenging. Here, we perform high‑vacuum tribological experiments to reveal the synergistic effects of temperature and hydrogen concentration on the lubrication and wear performance of H‑DLC films. We demonstrate that increasing the hydrogen content can reverse the temperature dependence of the lubrication lifetime, because the increased hydrogen content is associated with a shift in the dominant wear mechanism from adhesive wear to chemical wear. Our combined simulations and experiments further elucidate the contrasting temperature responses of these two mechanisms. Elevated temperatures promote adhesive wear by enhancing the formation of interfacial bridge bonds that pull off surface atoms during sliding. Conversely, increased temperature within the tested range may suppress chemical wear by reducing Young’s modulus, which enlarges the real contact area and lowers local stress, thereby hindering hydrocarbon emission. Overall, these findings reveal how hydrogen content governs the temperature‑dependent tribological behavior of H‑DLC, providing a rational basis for designing robust solid lubricants with predictable performance within the tested temperature range.

Co-author:Zhihuang He,Peng Zhuo,Ruiqi Liu,Pengfei Shi

First Author:Yexin Li

Indexed by:SCI

Correspondence Author:Hongbo Wang,Yixin Su,Yang Wang

Discipline:Engineering

Document Type:J

Volume:225

Page Number:112449

Translation or Not:no

Date of Publication:2026-07-08

Included Journals:SCI

Links to published journals:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301679X26007929