Tribosynthesis of Carbon Coatings for Friction ad Wear Reduction

Objective

Friction and wear affect all applications involving moving contacts and result in massive economic, energy, and environmental costs. Carbon-based coatings, such as diamond like coatings (DLC), represent an effective solution to mitigate these issues. However, their deposition currently relies on high-temperature processes, which limit their widespread adoption. TRIBOSYINC will harness tribochemical reactions, i.e., reactions involving molecules confined at the interface of two bodies under load and shear stresses, to transform carbon-containing precursors into DLC or graphene-like films. This process, referred to as tribosynthesis, will be developed into a versatile, room-temperature coating technology, enabling broad applicability and energy-efficient processing. TRIBOSYNC has the potential to significantly reduce friction-related energy losses and extend component lifetime, advancing tribological technologies across various industrial sectors, from automotive to aerospace, with positive environmental impact.