Superlubricity in dry rolling-sliding contacts with amorphous carbon film

Amorphous carbon films demonstrate exceptional tribological performance, yet previous studies have focused on superlubricity in pure sliding contacts, lacking a comprehensive understanding of superlubricity in rolling-sliding contacts for bearings and gears. This research focused on preparing AlCrSi/a-C:H nano-multilayer films, systematically investigating their tribological behavior in rolling-sliding contacts. Notably, the film achieved superlubricity under a wide range of slide-to-roll ratios (0–100 %) in nitrogen. The superlubricious film largely reduces interfacial adhesion and shear forces, which contribute to both pure sliding and pure rolling friction. Detailed characterization revealed that an ultra-thin transfer film is the key for achieving superlubricity in rolling-sliding contacts. This work bridges the knowledge gap between superlubricity and rolling-sliding contacts, providing a theoretical basis for engineering applications.