Thomas Scharf

Professor
Discovery Park E117
940-891-6837
scharf@unt.edu
Faculty Profile | Website | Google Scholar |
  • Biography

    B. S., 1994, Ceramic Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University
    ”The Effects of Oxidation on the Strength Behavior of a-SiC Fibers” under Dr. Richard E. Tressler.

    M.S., 1997, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, The University of Alabama,
    “Structural, Tribo-Mechanical, and Thermal Characterization of Sputtered Diamond-Like Carbon and Nitrogenated Diamond-Like Carbon Thin Films”

    Ph. D., 2000, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, The University of Alabama, advisor John A. Barnard
    “Growth, Structure, and Mechanical Wear Strength of Ultra-Thin Ion Beam and Sputter Deposited Hard Coatings”

  • Research

    Research Interests

    • Physical and chemical vapor deposition of ceramic and metallic thin films for moving mechanical assemblies
    • Atomic layer deposition of nanocrystalline solid lubricant thin films for rolling element bearings
    • Micro- & Nano-Tribology studies of solid lubricants and hard coatings
    • MEMS materials and tribology
    • In-situ chemical diagnostic tribology of dry and lubricated contacts using Raman spectroscopy and optical techniques
    • Interfacial studies of surface engineered thin films using FIB/FESEM and HRSTEM
  • Publications

    Google Scholar

    T.W. Scharf and S. V. Prasad, “Diamond-Like Nanocomposite Coatings for LIGA-Fabricated Nickel Alloy Parts,” Report No. SAND2005-1004, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, (2005).

    T.M. Mayer, T.W. Scharf, S. V. Prasad, M. T. Dugger, P.G. Kotula, R.K. Grubbs, and R. S. Goeke, and, “Atomic Layer Deposition of Highly Conformal Tribological Coatings,” Report No. SAND2005-5742, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, (2005).

    T.W. Scharf, S. V. Prasad, T. M. Mayer, R. S. Goeke, and M. T. Dugger, “Atomic Layer Deposition of Tungsten Disulphide Solid Lubricant Coatings,” Journal of Materials Research, 19 3443-3446 (2004).

    T.W. Scharf and I.L. Singer, “Thickness of Diamond-like Carbon Coatings Quantified with Raman Spectra,” Thin Solid Films, 440 138-144 (2003).

    T.W. Scharf and I.L. Singer, “Quantification of the Thickness of Carbon Transfer Films Using Raman Tribometry,” Tribology Letters 14(2) 137-145 (2003).

    T.W. Scharf and I.L. Singer, “Monitoring Transfer Films and Friction Instabilities with In Situ Raman Tribometry,”Tribology Letters 14(1) 3-8 (2003).

    T.W. Scharf and I.L. Singer, “Role of Third Bodies in Friction Behavior of Diamond-like Nanocomposite Coatings Studied by In Situ Tribometry,” Tribology Transactions 45(3) 363-371 (2002).

  • Professional Experience

    2000-2003: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Tribology Section, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC

    2003-2005: Limited Term Member of the Technical Staff, Materials Aging and Reliability Department, Sandia National Laboratory, Albuquerque, NM

    2005-present: Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX

    2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014: University Summer Faculty,  Sandia National Laboratory, Albuquerque, NM

    Professional Affiliations 
    American Ceramic Society (ACerS); Microanalysis Society (MAS); American Vacuum Society (AVS); Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE), Board of Directors STLE.

  • Groups
    Materials Research Facility (MRF)Laboratory for Moving Mechanical Assemblies (LaMMA)