  The aim of this study is to probe the influence of water vapor environment on
the microtribological properties of a forestlike vertically aligned carbon
nanotube (VACNT) film, deposited on a silicon (001) substrate by chemical vapor
deposition. Tribological experiments were performed using a gold tip under
relative humidity varying from 0 to 100%. Very low adhesion forces and high
friction coefficients of 0.6 to 1.3 resulted. The adhesion and friction forces
were independent of humidity, due probably to the high hydrophobicity of VACNT.
These tribological characteristics were compared to those of a diamond like
carbon (DLC) sample.
