Patent ID: 8222189

Claim:
A mechanical system having a plurality of interrelating components, comprising: a) a contact surface, the contact surface having i) a substrate, ii) a carbon-based coating layer on the substrate and iii) an adherence-promoting intermediate coating layer between the substrate and the carbon-based coating layer, wherein the adherence-promoting intermediate coating layer includes non-stoichiometric silicon carbide; and b) a contact countersurface, wherein the contact surface and the contact countersurface are in dynamic contact at least intermittently with respect to each other, wherein the carbon-based coating layer has a coefficient of friction of about 0.5 or less, an atomic hydrogen content of about 5% to about 25%, and an abrasive wear rate of 10.sup.−5m.sup.3m.sup.−1N.sup.−1 or less.