ARTICLE HAVING DIAMOND-LIKE CARBON COMPOSITE FILM AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME

Abstract

An exemplary article has a body made of steel, an electroless nickel layer electroless-plated on the body, and a diamond-like carbon layer formed on the electroless nickel layer. An exemplary method for manufacturing the article includes the steps of: providing a body made of steel; electroless plating an electroless nickel layer on the body; and forming a diamond-like carbon layer on the electroless nickel layer. The article has some excellent properties such as wear resistance, corrosion resistance and magnetic properties.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present method. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an article according to a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for manufacturing an article according to another preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a sputtering apparatus for manufacturing the article of FIG. 1.

Claims

1. An article, comprising: a body comprised of steel,an electroless nickel layer electroless-plated on the body, anda diamond-like carbon layer formed on the electroless nickel layer.

2. The article as claimed in claim 1, the electroless nickel layer has a thickness in a range from 5 microns to 50 microns.

3. The article as claimed in claim 1, the diamond-like carbon layer has a thickness in a range from 1 nanometer to 2000 nanometers.

4. The article as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a transition layer sandwiched between the electroless nickel layer and the diamond-like carbon layer.

5. The article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transition layer comprises a first transition layer formed on the electroless nickel layer, and a second transition layer sandwiched between the first transition layer and the diamond-like carbon layer, the first transition layer being comprised of a material selected from a group consisting of chromium, titanium, and chromium titanium, and the second transition layer being comprised of a material selected from a group consisting of chromium nitride, titanium nitride and chromium titanium nitride.

6. The article as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first transition layer has a thickness in a range from 1 nanometer to 30 nanometers, and the second transition layer has a thickness in a range from 1 nanometer to 50 nanometers.

7. A method for manufacturing an article as claimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of: providing a body comprised of steel;electroless plating an electroless nickel layer on the body; andforming a diamond-like carbon layer on the electroless nickel layer.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a step of cleansing the body prior to electroless plating the electroless nickel layer on the body.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a step of electroplating a nickel layer on the body prior to electroless plating the electroless nickel layer on the body.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the step of electroplating the nickel layer is performed for a time period in a range from 30 seconds to 60 seconds.

11. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a step of heating the body with the electroless nickel layer thereon.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of heating the body with the electroless nickel layer thereon is performed at a temperature in a range from 350 degrees Celsius to 450 degrees Celsius.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of heating the body with the electroless nickel layer thereon is performed for a time period of about 1 hour.

14. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a step of forming a transition layer on the electroless nickel layer prior to forming the diamond-like carbon layer.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the transition layer and the diamond-like carbon layer are sequentially formed on the electroless nickel layer by sputtering deposition, and a sputtering gas flow rate for forming the transition layer and the diamond-like carbon layer is in a range from 1 to 100 standard cubic centimeters per minute.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the transition layer and the diamond-like carbon layer are sequentially formed on the electroless nickel layer by sputtering deposition at a bias voltage in a range from −50 volts to 200 volts.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the transition layer and the diamond-like carbon layer are sequentially formed on the electroless nickel layer by sputtering deposition at a pressure in a range from 1×10−5 pascals to 10×10−4 pascals.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the transition layer and the diamond-like carbon layer are sequentially formed on the electroless nickel layer by sputtering deposition at a temperature in a range from 25 degrees Celsius to 150 degrees Celsius.