Slidably movable member and method of producing same
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- a slidable member;
lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine in contact with said slidable member, the lubricating oil containing one or more oiliness agents;
wherein the slidable member includes a substrate selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride and a metal; and
a hard carbon-based film coated on a surface of said substrate, said hard carbon-based film having been applied by a process that produces in the surface of the film a sufficient number of polar groups to adsorb the oiliness agents from the lubricating oil to a degree to produce a lowered coefficient of friction;
wherein the hard carbon-based film has a coefficient of friction of not higher than 0.07 and wherein the hard carbon-based film has a surface roughness, Ra, of not higher than 0.1 μ
m.
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Abstract
A slidably movable member such as an adjusting shim used in a valve operating mechanism of an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle. The slidably movable member is used in contact with lubricating oil and comprises a substrate. A hard carbon-based film is coated on a surface of the substrate. The hard carbon-based film has a surface section which contains at least one of nitrogen and oxygen in an amount ranging from 0.5 to 30 at % and/or hydrogen in an amount of not more than 10 at %.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a slidable member;
lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine in contact with said slidable member, the lubricating oil containing one or more oiliness agents;
wherein the slidable member includes a substrate selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride and a metal; and
a hard carbon-based film coated on a surface of said substrate, said hard carbon-based film having been applied by a process that produces in the surface of the film a sufficient number of polar groups to adsorb the oiliness agents from the lubricating oil to a degree to produce a lowered coefficient of friction;
wherein the hard carbon-based film has a coefficient of friction of not higher than 0.07 and wherein the hard carbon-based film has a surface roughness, Ra, of not higher than 0.1 μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system comprising:
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a) a metal or silicon nitride substrate;
b) an oiliness agent; and
c) a hard carbon-based film formed on the substrate, the hard carbon-based film comprising a sufficient number of polar groups to adsorb the oiliness agent to a degree to produce a lowered coefficient of friction;
wherein the hard carbon-based film has a coefficient of friction of not higher than 0.07 and wherein the hard carbon-based film has a surface roughness, Ra, of not higher than 0.1 μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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a) a metal or silicon nitride substrate;
b) a hard carbon-based film formed on the substrate, the hard carbon-based film having been applied by a process that produces in a surface of the film an increased concentration of polar groups; and
c) an agent which adsorbs to the surface of the hard carbon-based film as a result of the presence of the polar groups and which thereby decreases the friction coefficient of the surface;
wherein the hard carbon-based film has a coefficient of friction of not higher than 0.07 and wherein the hard carbon-based film has a surface roughness, Ra, of not higher than 0.1 μ
m.
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21. A system comprising:
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a) a metal or silicon nitride substrate having a film formed thereon;
b) a lubricant comprising an oiliness agent in contact with the film; and
c) said film comprising a hard carbon-based film formed on the substrate, the hard carbon-based film having (i) a surface roughness of not higher than 0.1 μ
m, (ii) a thickness of 1 to 10 μ
m, and (iii) comprising a sufficient number of polar groups to adsorb the oiliness agent to produce a coefficient of friction, Ra, of not higher than 0.07. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification