Date of Graduation
5-2012
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Advisor/Mentor
Zou, Min
Committee Member/Reader
Spearot, Douglas E.
Abstract
Textured surfaces can reduce friction due to decreased contact area between two surfaces, and could therefore increase the reliability of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). The problem with some microtextures is their inability to withstand significant amounts of wear, often deforming or breaking, thus limiting their potential uses and overall effectiveness. In this study, connected and isolated SU8 microstructures with and without diamond-like coating (DLC) were designed to investigate the effects of these microstructures on the tribological performance of a surface. Friction studies were conducted using a tribometer, while surface topography and wear were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscope, and contact profilometry. The results show that the coefficient of friction as well as overall surface wear can be significantly reduced by texturing samples with connected microstructures covered by DLC.
Citation
Osborn, L. (2012). Enhanced tribological properties of surfaces patterned with DLC/SU8 microstructures. Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/meeguht/36