Moisture Effects on Nanowear of Gold Films

TL;DR

This study investigates how moisture influences the nanowear behavior of gold films, revealing significantly increased wear rates in water and surface modifications after repeated wear cycles.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the effects of wet environments on gold nanowear, including wear rate differences and surface morphology changes.

Findings

Gold wear rate in water is over 10 times higher than in air.

Friction coefficient remains constant at 0.2 across conditions.

Surface ripples develop after wear cycles in water.

Abstract

Nanowear properties of sputtered Au films in dry and wet environments were investigated using a scanning nanoindenter. Gold exhibits over 10 times higher wear rate in water compared to air at the same normal load of 10 microN. The friction coefficient obtained from scratch tests remained constant at 0.2 regardless of the testing conditions. Au surface roughness increased from 3 to 8 nm after 200 wear cycles in air. Surface ripples, 200 nm high developed on the Au film surface after 200 wear cycles in water. Film scratch hardness compares well with the nanoindentation hardness.