Papers by Keyword: Hard Coating

Abstract: Traditionally, the term hard coatings refer to the property of high hardness in mechanical sense with good tribological properties [1]. With the development of modern technology in the areas of optical, optoelectronic, microelectronic and related defense applications, the definition of the term hard coatings can be extended. Thus, a system which operates satisfactorily, in a given environment can be said to be hard with respect to that environment [2]. Most of the hard coatings are ceramic compounds such as oxides, carbides, nitrides (AlN), ceramic alloys, cermets, metastable materials such as Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC). Their properties and environmental resistance depend on the composition, stoichiometry, impurities, microstructure, imperfections, and in the case of coatings, the preferred orientation (texture). In this paper we shall take a look at some characteristics - physicochemical and optical of AlN and DLC layers synthesized by physical vapor deposition – RF magnetron sputtering in an industrial high vacuum deposition system. The influence of the process parameters on the growth rate, morphology, topography and chemical bonding structure will be presented.

Abstract: The current study was undertaken to investigate the synthesis of CrAlN/BN composite coatings having super high hardness by a reactive co-sputtering using CrAl alloy and BN targets and gaseous mixture of Ar+N2, in order to eliminate the possible formation of boride bonding. CrAlN or BN phase was deposited by pulsed d.c.- and r.f.- sputtering, respectively. Plastic hardness, Hpl, and Young’s modulus, E*, of the coatings increased with BN phase ratio, reaching a maximum value of ~46 GPa and 390 GPa at ~8 vol. % of BN phase; and then decreased to ~20GPa and ~300GPa at ~18 vol.%, respectively. Only B1 structured Cr(Al)N phase was found in XRD and SAED analysis. XPS and TEM/HRTEM results revealed that the CrAlN/8vol%BN coating consists mostly of CrAlN and BN phase, which exists as an amorphous like phase among the CrAlN grains. The CrAlN/8vol%BN coating has a kind of nanocomposite structure and the super high hardness over 40 GPa is probably due to this structure.

Abstract: In this study, TiAlSiN coatings were synthesized by cathodic arc deposition with Ti and Al88Si12 dual cathodes. The as-deposited coatings were following with post-deposition heat treatment in air and nitrogen atmosphere, respectively, at the temperature of 400 oC for 3 hour. The annealing treatment of the TiAlSiN coating has an expected effect on the wear resistance and cutting performance. The TiAlSiN coating subjected to heat treatment in nitrogen atmosphere presented the best oxidation and wear resistance among the tested coatings. The friction coefficient of the TiAlSiN coatings subjected in nitrogen atmosphere at 400oC was decreased due to the effect of the structure modification by increasing hardness. Using thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), the result turned out the lowest weight change of TiAlSiN coating after annealing treatment in air if compared to that of all the coatings. The reason my be due to the oxide layer formed on the coating surface acted as a protective layer. Cutting test on the hardened steel with mist oil lubricants, the TiAlSiN-coated WC-Co tool with annealing treatment in nitrogen provides the best wear resistance at the cutting edge.

Abstract: Microdrills were deposited by Cr-N based and TiN coatings using a magnetron sputter technique. A flexible printed circuit board was used to evaluate the drilling lives. SEM observation was employed to reveal the wear and local welding. A special pin-on-disc tester was designed to assess the interaction between coatings and against materials. Drilling test indicated that the number of drilling holes increased significantly when the minidrill was coated Cr-N based film than TiN. Failure model of microdrill was studied for cutting this copper rich printed circuit board. Results demonstrated that welding produced between TiN coating and rich copper counter material, but welding did not occur between Cr-N based film and copper material.

Abstract: Surface engineering is considered a very prospective method of improving functional properties of implant alloys. Many publications reported the excellent influence of TiN coating on wear resistance as well as corrosion properties of titanium alloys. However, some authors pointed the danger of delamination of thin coating during exploitation. The aim of presented work was research of effect of TiN coating obtained by the RF-PCVD method on tribological and corrosion properties of Ti6Al4V alloy. Investigations performed by the simulator of hip joint friction as well as corrosion tests carried out at various temperatures showed adverse influence of TiN coating on wear and corrosion resistance. Analysis of presented date demonstrate that results strongly depend on test conditions.

Abstract: In this work, Si-doped DLC films were deposited on stainless steel (316SS) and polycarbonate (PC) substrates by RF-PACVD in gas mixtures of SiH4+CH4, with 2, 5 and 10 vol.% SiH4. The increase of the Si content in the films led to a progressive drop in the hardness from 30 GPa down to 23 GPa whereas the elastic modulus increased from 124 GPa up to 146 GPa, as measured in the SS coated substrates. In the case of coated PC samples pop-in was observed in the loading curve which was interpreted by finite element simulation and nanoscratching techniques.

Abstract: CrAlSiN hard coatings were fabricated on the Si substrate from metallurgical Cr0.45Al0.45Si0.10 alloy target by reactive r.f. magnetron sputtering. The oxidation resistance of CrAlSiN coatings was investigated after annealing at temperatures between 900 and 1100°C for 1 hr in air. The phase identification and microstructure of CrAlSiN coatings after heat treatment were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The hardness of CrAlSiN coating after heat treatment at 900oC for 1hr in air is slightly decreased from 30.2GPa to 28.3±1.3GPa, which was caused by the thin oxide formation on the surface of the film. The microstructure of CrAlSiN coating after heat treatment at 1000oC from 1 hr analyzed by TEM revealed two types of layer feature, including the nanocrystalline grain embedded in the Al-riched amorphous layer and reaction interface with relative high content of Si.

Abstract: Cr-Me-N-O (Me; Ni, Cu and Mg) thin films have been designed and successfully prepared by the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method. It was found that Me, which form the monoxide MeO, are effective for hardening the Cr(N,O) thin films.

Abstract: Internal stresses are very important for the performance of protective hard coatings. Tensile stresses favour the formation and propagation of cracks, inducing fracture and corrosion. Medium compressive stresses hinder fatigue. But high compressive stresses, typically for hard coatings produced by PVD (physical vapour deposition) processes, support delamination in order to relax the stored elastic energy. However notwithstanding its relevance, the internal stresses are only seldom used for the optimisation and quality control of hard coatings in industry. This unsatisfying situation is caused by the deficit in efficient measuring methods. The results of thin sheets, where the stresses can be simply measured by their curvature, are not necessarily representative for the coating of thicker parts. The conventional XRD (X-ray Diffraction), based on angle-dispersive evaluation needs expensive devices and is rather time consuming. The energy-dispersive technique opens new possibilities. It is based on polychromatic radiation. The interference of the lattice plane reflections corresponding to the Bragg-equation is investigated by the diffraction intensity of the different wavelength (or photon energies), not by varying the Bragg-angle as in conventional XRD. Hence, the whole diffraction pattern can be obtained in one shoot without the use of any goniometer. This allows the construction of small and compact measuring devices and the reduction of measuring time to a few minutes. The capability of the ED-XRD (Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffraction) is demonstrated for titanium nitride and chromium nitride films deposited by cathodic vacuum arc with varying parameters. Comparisons were made with the much more time-consuming AD-XRD (Angle Dispersive X-ray Diffraction) for residual stress analysis. The results of both methods are in good agreement.

Abstract: A new nitriding method has been devised which requires only a simple vacuum furnace and enables direct nitridation of solid aluminium without any prior surface treatment. It can be used to produce thick aluminium nitride surface layers on aluminium, under nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. A critical element of the process is the use of a magnesium vapour source that reduces/disrupts the natural, protective oxide film on the aluminium surface and facilitates nitriding. The nitride surface layers form through two distinct modes, one growing outward from the aluminium plate surface and the other growing into the aluminium. Studies of the nitride layers utilizing optical microscopy, TEM, SEM, XRD and XPS have been conducted. Details of the composition, structure and growth as well as possible mechanisms for the nitride formation are presented. Understanding of the reaction may have important implications for the production of wear resistant coatings on bulk Al as well as for the production of Al/AlN composites.