The exceptional tribological properties of low deposition temperature sputt
ered carbon coatings (Graphit-iC coatings) have been recently reported. Thi
s paper describes the latest development of these coatings and particularly
how, by an optimisation of the deposition parameters, it has been possible
to obtain relative soft to very hard coatings with extremely low specific
wear rates. The coatings have been deposited in a closed field unbalanced m
agnetron sputter ion plating (CFUBMSIP) installation. By applying the appro
priate conditions of deposition, carbon coatings with hardness from 1500 to
4000 HV can be routinely deposited. Preliminary analytical results are pre
sented in order to characterise such hard coatings: high-resolution transmi
ssion electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffracti
on analysis are some of the different techniques used for this work. Finall
y, a number of the applications are reported with tribological test results
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