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Article

The Influence of Plasma-Carburizing Temperature on the Microstructure and Properties of DLC/Carbonitride Wear-Resistant and Friction-Reducing Functional Layer

1
China Academy of Machinery Beijing Research Institute of Mechanical & Electrical Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing 100083, China
2
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Coatings 2025, 15(8), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15080966
Submission received: 22 July 2025 / Revised: 11 August 2025 / Accepted: 14 August 2025 / Published: 19 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)

Abstract

M50 steel is widely used in the manufacturing of high-end bearing components for aero-engine shafts, where an excellent surface performance is required to withstand harsh service conditions. In this study, plasma carburizing at different temperatures varying from 410 to 570 °C was performed on pre-nitrided M50 steel to investigate the influence of the temperature on the structural evolution and mechanical behavior of the self-lubricating functional layer. The microstructure, phase composition, hardness, and wear resistance of the carburized samples were fully characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) , Raman spectroscopy, a nano-indenter, and other analytical techniques. The carbon-rich film with nano-domains contains a significant amount of sp3 bonds at low carburizing temperatures, exhibiting a Diamond-like carbon (DLC) film character. With the rise in the carburizing temperature, the initially distinct interface between the carbon-rich film and the compound layer gradually disappears as the nitrides are progressively replaced by carbides; the sp3 bond of the film is decreased, which reduces the hardness and wear resistance. Samples carburized at 490 °C with a homogeneous surface layer consisting of DLC film and a compound layer showed a low friction coefficient (about 0.22) and a 60% reduction in the wear rate compared with the nitrided specimen. The formation of a surface carbon-enriched layer also plays a role in avoiding oxidative wear.
Keywords: diamond-like carbon; gradient phase structure; plasma carburizing; plasma nitriding; wear diamond-like carbon; gradient phase structure; plasma carburizing; plasma nitriding; wear
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MDPI and ACS Style

Yao, J.; Ma, Y.; Cong, P.; Yan, F.; Lu, W.; Zhang, Y.; Yan, M.; Ma, J. The Influence of Plasma-Carburizing Temperature on the Microstructure and Properties of DLC/Carbonitride Wear-Resistant and Friction-Reducing Functional Layer. Coatings 2025, 15, 966. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15080966

AMA Style

Yao J, Ma Y, Cong P, Yan F, Lu W, Zhang Y, Yan M, Ma J. The Influence of Plasma-Carburizing Temperature on the Microstructure and Properties of DLC/Carbonitride Wear-Resistant and Friction-Reducing Functional Layer. Coatings. 2025; 15(8):966. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15080966

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yao, Jiawei, Yiming Ma, Peiwu Cong, Fuyao Yan, Wenlin Lu, Yanxiang Zhang, Mufu Yan, and Jingbo Ma. 2025. "The Influence of Plasma-Carburizing Temperature on the Microstructure and Properties of DLC/Carbonitride Wear-Resistant and Friction-Reducing Functional Layer" Coatings 15, no. 8: 966. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15080966

APA Style

Yao, J., Ma, Y., Cong, P., Yan, F., Lu, W., Zhang, Y., Yan, M., & Ma, J. (2025). The Influence of Plasma-Carburizing Temperature on the Microstructure and Properties of DLC/Carbonitride Wear-Resistant and Friction-Reducing Functional Layer. Coatings, 15(8), 966. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15080966

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