Structure, mechanical properties of gradient nanocomposite copper-carbon coatings

A method for forming composite copper-carbon coatings by deposition from combined flows of carbon plasma and electric arc evaporation of copper with increasing carbon content during layer growth is proposed. The studies of the structural phase composition performed by the method of Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that an increase in the copper concentration stimulates graphitization of the carbon matrix: it leads to a decrease in the size of Csp$^2$ clusters and an increase in their concentration. The presence of copper in the coating in the form of individual particles 100$\dots$500 nm in size was established by the method of atomic force microscopy. The coatings are characterized by a decrease in hardness and elasticity with an increase in the indentation depth.