Papers by Author: Roumen Kakanakov

Abstract: In this research, the possibility of applying multilayer multielement super hard coatings by Cathodic Arc is investigated. More precisely the structure of the coating consisting of quaternary CrAlSiN and ternary AlSiN layers is examined by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron microscopy analytical methods. The as-deposited samples were found to have distinguishable layers. The CrAlSiN layer is characterized by an extra sequence of repeated nanolayers. The AlSiN layer consisted of nanosized grains having a preferential orientation. Finally the surface layer was found to contain a solid solution of CrxAl1-xN, while Si3N4was identified only by XPS most probably due to its amorphous structure.

Abstract: The present study addresses the influence of the gradient microstructure of nanocrystalline TiAlSiN coatings on their tribological behaviour. Cathodic arc deposition was applied to elaborate such coatings, with a total thickness of 3.5 μm, onto stainless steel substrates. Their microstructure has been characterised via Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and has been reported in detail previously. Since the main application of TiN-based coatings is the enhancement of the anti-wear resistance of metallic substrates, this work is focused on the tribological performance of gradient TiAlSiN coatings under dry sliding conditions. For this purpose, tests were carried out in a ball-on-disc apparatus, using an alumina ball as counterbody. The influence of the sliding velocity on the evolution of the friction coefficient and the wear lifetime of the gradient coatings has been evaluated in comparison to those of TiN coatings of the same thickness, tested under the same experimental conditions. It was found that the gradient microstructure results in an increase of the coatings’ mean lifetime by an average factor of three.

Abstract: Al-Free Nanolayered Metallizations Based on the Transition Metals Ti, Mo, Ni and Pd, with Varied Ti Content, Have Been Developed as an Alternative of the Al-Based Contacts for Sub-Micron Hemts. the Electrical, Morphological and Thermal Properties of the Metallization Schemes Have Been Studied with the Aim of Obtaining the Most Suitable Combination of Low Resistivity, a Smooth Surface and an Acute Edge. the Lowest Resistivity of 8.8x 10-6 Ω.cm2 Has Been Determined with the Ti/Mo/Ti/Au Contact, while the Lowest Surface Roughness of 6 Nm Has Been Measured for the Ti/Ni/Ti/Au Metallization. these Contact Schemes Have Shown much Better Edge Acuity in Comparison to the Al-Based Metallizations.

Abstract: Multilayered, Gradient Tialsin-Based Nanocomposite Coatings Have Been Developed and Investigated with Respect to their Applicability in the Machining Industry. the Main Coating Layer Was Composed of 5-8 Nm Tin and Aln Nanograins. the Coating Possessed Hardness as High as 40 GPA, which Allows it to Be Classified as Superhard. during Heating up to 900oC in Air in Steps of 100oC for 6 H at each Temperature, the Coating Showed Good Stability up to 700oC. Thermal Treatment over this Temperature Caused a Decrease in the Hardness to Values Characteristic for Tialn Multilayered Coatings, while the Adhesion to the Substrate Remained Steady.

Abstract: The dependence of the structure and composition of nanolayered Au/Ti/Al ohmic contacts to p-type 4H-SiC on the initial Ti:Al ratio has been investigated. Two contact compositions, Au/Ti(70%)/Al(30%) and Au/Ti(30%)/Al(70%), have been studied regarding the electrical properties, structure, composition and annealing temperature in the interval 850 – 1000o C. The correlation between the electrical behaviour and structure of the annealed contacts is discussed. Very low resistivity of 1.42x10-5 .cm2 after annealing at 900o C has been obtained for the contact having an initial composition Ti:Al (30:70), while the lowest resistivity of 1.21x10-5 .cm2 has been measured for the contact with a composition Ti:Al (70:30) after annealing at 1000o C. Strong dependence of the contact structure on the Ti:Al ratio and annealing temperature, respectively, has been found out. A presence of two phases, Au2Ti and Al3Ti, in all contacts has been determined after annealing, despite the temperature value and Ti:Al ratio. The TEM analysis reveals that titanium and aluminum silicides and carbides are formed after annealing as the Ti:Al ratio affects the kind of silicides and carbides created. It is obtained that the initial composition of the deposited metal layers influences only the phase composition of the annealed contact but not the grain sizes of the dominant phases formed. The origin of the ohmic properties improvement is explained by the formation of Ti3SiC2 compound and/or enhanced carrier transport by the presence of metal spikes into SiC depending on the initial contact composition and as consequence the optimal annealing temperature.

Abstract: Three types of nanolayered Pd-based metal/p-4H SiC systems, Au/Pd, Au/Pd/Al and Au/Pd/Ti/Pd have been investigated and compared to Pd monolayered metallization regarding the electrical and thermal properties. The lowest contact resistivity of 2.8x10-5 .cm2 has been achieved with the Au/Pd/Ti/Pd contact. This contact exhibits excellent thermal stability during long-term heating at temperature of 700oC and at operating temperatures up to 450oC. The surface morphology investigation has shown that despite the observed decrease, the palladium agglomeration has been not avoided completely in the same contact. The dominated surface roughness was measured to be 75 nm. However, the formation of dendrites in certain places leads to increase the surface roughness to 125 nm. The structural analysis revealed that palladium silicides are formed at the interface metal/p-4H SiC which affects on decrease of the barrier height in more than two times and conversion of the contact from Schottky into ohmic.

Abstract: The real electro-discharge polishing (EDP) system has been presented by an equivalent electrical scheme and described by a corresponded equation system. The Runge-Kutta-Merson method with automatically changed step is used for the numerical solution the equation system. The current through the resistor equivalent to the steam gas wrapper is defined with an I-V characteristic obtained by the method of multi-interval quadratic interpolation-approximation. A mathematical model of the power supply-load system has been realized in Basic and Matlab® languages. On the base of the developed modelling conditions limiting the current and voltage overload in the EDP system have been determined depending on the maximum polished area and the electrolyte temperature.

Abstract: Zirconium nitrides (ZrN) coatings have shown better quality in comparison to titanium nitrides (TiN) ones regarding the application in the mechanical processing of aluminum and titanium alloys. This work presents the results from investigation on properties of ZrN-based coatings intended for industrial application. The ZrN and ZrTiN hard coatings in a thickness of (3 5) m were obtained on stainless steel substrates by cathodic arc evaporation method. The coating hardness in the range of 25-32 GPa was evaluated using the Vickers measurement technique. The coating properties were studied in relation to the surface morphology by Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The analyses showed that the number and size of the macroparticles decrease when N2 pressure increases in the deposition chamber. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) was performed to identify the crystallographic structure, preferred orientation and stress of the ZrN coatings.

Abstract: The effect of the pulsed – laser annealing on the parameters of CdS thin layers in the medium of oxygen was studied. The CdS thin layers were deposited by spray pyrolysis at different technological conditions. The changes of the layers’ characteristics were studied by SEM, XRD and XPS and electrical measurements were carried out. The results showed that a change in the morphology and the phase composition of the surface occurred; a by-surface layer consisted of CdО with high conductivity was formed in consequence of oxidation of CdS. The parameters of the CdS thin layers were retained in- depth after pulsed laser annealing. These results are discussed in the context of transparent layers in solar cells.

Abstract: GaSb based III-V heterostuctures are attractive for optoelectronic devices such as midin- frared lasers, detectors, and thermophotovoltaics (TPVs). In this paper the growth and characterization of GaInAsSb and GaAlAsSb quaternary layers, lat-tice-matched to GaSb substrate, are reported, with a particular focus on these alloys for TPV devi-ces. High-quality with a mirror-like surface morphology epilayers Ga1-x InxAsy Sb1-y with In content x in the range 0.1-0.22 and Ga1-xAlxAsySb1-y layers with Al content up to 0.3 in the solid are grown by Liquid-Phase Epitaxy (LPE) from In- and Ga-rich melt, respectively. The compositions of the quaternary compounds are determined by X-ray microanalysis. The crystalline quality of GaInAsSb/ GaSb and GaAlAsSb/GaSb heterostuctures is studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements.