类金刚石（Diamond-like Carbon，DLC）薄膜因其高硬度、良好的化学惰性以及优异的摩擦性能等优势，有望成为一种理想的铝合金表面防护涂层。对比了物理气相沉积（Physical vapor deposition，PVD）技术制备DLC改性材料与传统铝合金表面改性技术的优劣，概述了DLC薄膜在提升铝合金表面力学性能、减摩抗磨方面取得的最新成果，以及在复杂服役工况下面临的抗塑性变形差、易发生结合失效等瓶颈性问题。通过分析铝合金基体上生长高性能DLC薄膜的不利因素，指出界面化学结合强度低、薄膜残余应力大以及软基体/硬质薄膜的结构体系限制是导致上述问题产生的主要原因。在此基础上，重点综述了国内外研究学者为提高铝合金表面沉积DLC薄膜的膜基结合力所采取的有效措施及结果，包括：通过基体前处理增强基体力学性能与改善宏观表面缺陷；采用PVD或其他表面处理方法制备一层或多层的中间过渡层，缓解DLC薄膜与铝合金基体结构、性能之间的差异；调控DLC薄膜组分与结构以降低残余应力。最后展望了在铝合金基体表面制备DLC防护薄膜的发展趋势。

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films are expected to be one of the ideal surface protective coatings for aluminum alloy due to their high hardness, good chemical inertness and excellent friction properties. The physical vapor deposition (PVD) technology used to prepare DLC films was compared with the traditional surface modification techniques of aluminum alloy. The latest research achievements for improving the mechanical and tribological properties of aluminum alloy by DLC protecting films were summarized. Meanwhile, the obstacles in the harsh applications such as poor resistance to plastic deformation and low adhesion between the film and substrate were generalized. By analyzing the unfavorable factors of high-performance DLC film deposited on aluminum alloy substrate, it was found that the low interface chemical bonding strength, high residual stress and the structural system limitation of soft matrix/hard film were the main causes of the above problems. On the basis of this, the measures taken by the domestic and foreign researchers to improve the adhesion between DLC film and aluminum alloy and corresponding results were presented, including surface treatment for strengthening mechanical properties and reducing surface defects, preparing single-layer or multi-layer interlayers to reduce the difference of the structure and properties between DLC film and aluminum alloy matrix by PVD or other surface modifying methods, and reducing the residual stress by controlling the composition and structure of DLC film. Finally, the future development trends of DLC protective film on aluminum alloy substrate are proposed.