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Home / Applications / Measurement of Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC)

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  • Technique

Measurement of Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC)

By Carlos Morillo

PDF IconDownload This Application

October 8, 2024

Introduction

Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) is an amorphous carbon material that has an intermediate molecular structure between diamond and graphite. DLC coatings are used to improve abrasion resistance, chemical resistance etc., it is used as a coating for cutting tools, automotive components, medical equipment, optical components and many other products. In recent years, DLC coatings have also been used to improve the gas barrier properties in  plastic bottles.

This application note reports the analysis of DLC coated plastic bottles using Raman spectroscopy.

Experimental

NRS Series Raman Spectrometers
NRS-5500 Raman Spectrometer

The samples measured were two types of plastic bottle with a visual appearance of different colors as shown in Figure 1. From this point forward, samples from colorless clear plastic bottles shown in Figure 1 are referred as “colored” (left) and samples from the “clear” plastic bottle (right ) are referred as “uncolored”.

Measurements were made of both the inside and outside surfaces of each plastic bottle (upper and lower surfaces as shown in Figure 1) and the Raman spectra were compared.

Measurement sample
Figure 1. Measurement sample

The instrument and measurement parameters are as follows.

Keywords

020-AN-0023, DLC, Diamond-Like Carbon, coating, carbon, amorphous, polyethylene terephthalate

Results

Figure 2 show the results of measurement of both the inside and outside of the uncolored and colored samples. In the case of the uncolored sample, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) peaks were obtained from both inside and outside measurements. For the colored sample, different spectra were obtained between the inside outside measurements. The difference spectrum from the colored sample is shown in Figure 4. A database search identified the different spectrum as  DLC. PET was found on the outside of the colored sample and on the inside surface DLC was found in addition to PET, this confirmed that the inside of the plastic bottle was coated with DLC.

Measurement of uncolored (Left) and colored (Right) samples
Figure 2. Measurement of uncolored (Left) and colored (Right) samples
 Difference spectrum of colored sample
Figure 3. Difference spectrum of colored sample
(Inside – Outside)

Furthermore, the quality of the DLC coating can be evaluated from its spectrum; the D band (sp3 bonds in the material lattice) and G bands (sp2 bonds in the material lattice) can be deconvolved using curve fitting as shown in Figure 4, from this it is possible to evaluate characteristics such as abrasion resistance from the peak positions, half widths, peak ratio etc.


D and G bands deconvolution
Figure 4. D and G bands deconvolution

 

Conclusion

In this application note, we introduced an example of measurement of a DLC coated plastic bottle by Raman spectroscopy. In addition, Raman can be used to evaluate the characteristics of DLC used for various tools and magnetic disks with non-destructive and non-contact testing.

Measurement Conditions
Main UnitNRS-5500 Raman spectrometerObjective Lens100x
Ex Wavelength532 nmAccumulation2 times
Exposure Time90 seconds

Remarks

The typical thickness of DLC coatings on plastic bottles is around 10 nm to several tens of nanometers. In future, it is likely that DLC coatings will be made thinner in order to reduce material costs. If the DLC thickness is too thin, it may be difficult to detect by Raman spectroscopy. This trend is seen not only for the coatings on plastic bottles, but for the DLC industry as a whole.

The measurement parameters for slit and aperture were as follows:
Slit: j25 µm Aperture: j40 µm

In this sample measurement, Diamond-Like Carbon(DLC) film could be detected even using a large slit and aperture. But in this application note, the results of high spatial resolution are shown in order to improve the quality of DLC material detection.

The spectra in Figure 2 show that even though the plastic bottles samples were made from the same material (polyethylene terephthalate), the baselines were different between the uncolored and colored samples. In Raman spectroscopy, the presence of slight amount of impurities can cause fluorescence, it is assumed that a slight difference occurred in the material due to a variation the production process.

We recommend that the dedicated Carbon analysis program is used for curve fitting of multiple spectra (*.jws spectrum data files). This program can be conveniently used to batch process multiple data.

System Configuration
ModelDescriptionP/NRemarks
Main UnitNRS-5500Raman Spectrometer7119-J051ALaser: 532 nm
In this application note a 100 mW laser was used, however good sample measurement can be made using the standard 50 mW laser.
AccessoriesRXY-478BAutomatic XYZ stage6947-J478B
RHG5-600B500600 gr/mm grating6947-J293AMeasurement can be made using the standard grating (1800 gr/mm), however we recommend the optional 600 gr/mm grating with a wider measurement range.
This document has been prepared based on information available at the time of publication and is subject to revision without notice. Although the contents are checked with the utmost care, we do not guarantee their accuracy or completeness. JASCO Corporation assumes no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage incurred as a result of the use of any information contained in this document. Copyright and other intellectual property rights in this document remain the property of JASCO Corporation. Please do not attempt to copy, modify, redistribute, or sell etc. in whole or in part without prior written permission.

Featured Products:

  • NRS-5000 Series Confocal Raman Microscope

About the Author

Dr. Carlos Morillo received his Post Doc at Advanced Industrial Science & Technology in Fukuoka and was a Research Scientist at Kyushu University in Japan where he lived for several years. Carlos received his Doctor of Engineering from Kyushu University and his Masters and BS from Simon Bolivar University in Caracas Venezuela. He is an Applications Scientist at JASCO.

JASCO Application Note

Measurement of Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC)

Introduction

Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) is an amorphous carbon material that has an intermediate molecular structure between diamond and graphite. DLC coatings are used to improve abrasion resistance, chemical resistance etc., it is used as a coating for cutting tools, automotive components, medical equipment, optical components and many other products. In recent years, DLC coatings have also been used to improve the gas barrier properties in  plastic bottles.

This application note reports the analysis of DLC coated plastic bottles using Raman spectroscopy.

Experimental

NRS Series Raman Spectrometers
NRS-5500 Raman Spectrometer

The samples measured were two types of plastic bottle with a visual appearance of different colors as shown in Figure 1. From this point forward, samples from colorless clear plastic bottles shown in Figure 1 are referred as “colored” (left) and samples from the “clear” plastic bottle (right ) are referred as “uncolored”.

Measurements were made of both the inside and outside surfaces of each plastic bottle (upper and lower surfaces as shown in Figure 1) and the Raman spectra were compared.

Measurement sample
Figure 1. Measurement sample

The instrument and measurement parameters are as follows.

Results

Figure 2 show the results of measurement of both the inside and outside of the uncolored and colored samples. In the case of the uncolored sample, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) peaks were obtained from both inside and outside measurements. For the colored sample, different spectra were obtained between the inside outside measurements. The difference spectrum from the colored sample is shown in Figure 4. A database search identified the different spectrum as  DLC. PET was found on the outside of the colored sample and on the inside surface DLC was found in addition to PET, this confirmed that the inside of the plastic bottle was coated with DLC.

Measurement of uncolored (Left) and colored (Right) samples
Figure 2. Measurement of uncolored (Left) and colored (Right) samples
 Difference spectrum of colored sample
Figure 3. Difference spectrum of colored sample
(Inside – Outside)

Furthermore, the quality of the DLC coating can be evaluated from its spectrum; the D band (sp3 bonds in the material lattice) and G bands (sp2 bonds in the material lattice) can be deconvolved using curve fitting as shown in Figure 4, from this it is possible to evaluate characteristics such as abrasion resistance from the peak positions, half widths, peak ratio etc.


D and G bands deconvolution
Figure 4. D and G bands deconvolution

 

Conclusion

In this application note, we introduced an example of measurement of a DLC coated plastic bottle by Raman spectroscopy. In addition, Raman can be used to evaluate the characteristics of DLC used for various tools and magnetic disks with non-destructive and non-contact testing.

Measurement Conditions
Main UnitNRS-5500 Raman spectrometerObjective Lens100x
Ex Wavelength532 nmAccumulation2 times
Exposure Time90 seconds

Remarks

The typical thickness of DLC coatings on plastic bottles is around 10 nm to several tens of nanometers. In future, it is likely that DLC coatings will be made thinner in order to reduce material costs. If the DLC thickness is too thin, it may be difficult to detect by Raman spectroscopy. This trend is seen not only for the coatings on plastic bottles, but for the DLC industry as a whole.

The measurement parameters for slit and aperture were as follows:
Slit: j25 µm Aperture: j40 µm

In this sample measurement, Diamond-Like Carbon(DLC) film could be detected even using a large slit and aperture. But in this application note, the results of high spatial resolution are shown in order to improve the quality of DLC material detection.

The spectra in Figure 2 show that even though the plastic bottles samples were made from the same material (polyethylene terephthalate), the baselines were different between the uncolored and colored samples. In Raman spectroscopy, the presence of slight amount of impurities can cause fluorescence, it is assumed that a slight difference occurred in the material due to a variation the production process.

We recommend that the dedicated Carbon analysis program is used for curve fitting of multiple spectra (*.jws spectrum data files). This program can be conveniently used to batch process multiple data.

System Configuration
ModelDescriptionP/NRemarks
Main UnitNRS-5500Raman Spectrometer7119-J051ALaser: 532 nm
In this application note a 100 mW laser was used, however good sample measurement can be made using the standard 50 mW laser.
AccessoriesRXY-478BAutomatic XYZ stage6947-J478B
RHG5-600B500600 gr/mm grating6947-J293AMeasurement can be made using the standard grating (1800 gr/mm), however we recommend the optional 600 gr/mm grating with a wider measurement range.

Keywords

020-AN-0023, DLC, Diamond-Like Carbon, coating, carbon, amorphous, polyethylene terephthalate

This document has been prepared based on information available at the time of publication and is subject to revision without notice. Although the contents are checked with the utmost care, we do not guarantee their accuracy or completeness. JASCO Corporation assumes no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage incurred as a result of the use of any information contained in this document. Copyright and other intellectual property rights in this document remain the property of JASCO Corporation. Please do not attempt to copy, modify, redistribute, or sell etc. in whole or in part without prior written permission.
28600 Mary’s Court, Easton, MD 21601 USA • (800) 333-5272 • Fax: (410) 822-7526 • jascoinc.com/applications

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