Microtribological properties of carbon nanotube films fluorinated by the high anisotropy and low energy fluorine atoms beam

Since the discovery of carbon nanotubes (CNT), a number of tribological researches made because of their high industrial potentials. CNT have cylinder structures with graphene-sheets (the same as graphite, which is used as good solid lubricants), and have high stiffness. A study on CNT films and sliding tips was carried out. CNT films could sustain the tips at the loads and the friction properties. However, the friction coefficient of CNT films were extremely high. Individual CNT stick the asperities of the tip surfaces and were then bended, thus, the extremely high friction would arise from high repulsive forces due to the bending of CNT. Low-friction forces of CNT could be expected if sticks of CNT in the asperities are avoided. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 2009 World Tribology Congress (Kyoto, Japan 9/6-11/2009).