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Plasma deposition of amorphous carbon films from methane atmospheres highly diluted in argon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2011

L. G. Jacobsohn
Affiliation:
Departamento de Física, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro Caixa Postal 38071, 22452-970 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
F. L. Freire Jr
Affiliation:
Departamento de Física, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro Caixa Postal 38071, 22452-970 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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Abstract

We investigated the deposition, structure and mechanical properties of a-C:H films grown in Ar-CH4 mixtures with the Ar partial pressure ranging from 0 to 99 %. The deposition rate strongly decreased with progressive Ar dilution of the CH4 atmosphere. Films deposited in pure CH4 atmospheres have a hydrogen content of 20 at.% that showed a trend to decrease for lower CH4 partial pressures, while the density remained nearly constant at around 1.4x1023 at./cm3. Raman spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction revealed the amorphous character of the films. The compressive internal stress remained constant around 2.5 GPa and the hardness decreases for Ar rich precursor atmospheres.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2002

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