Materials Science Forum Vols. 638-642

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: Ni-Fe alloy films and nanowires were fabricated using electrodeposition technique. The cylindrical shape of nanowires was precisely transferred from the nanochannels of membrane filters and the aspect ratio reached to around 60. Coercive force in in-plan direction of Ni-Fe alloy films decreased to ca. 1 Oe with increasing Fe content in deposits while, in perpendicular direction, the films were hardly magnetized. Magnetic hysteresis loops revealed that the nanowires were spontaneously magnetized to the long axis direction and the coercive force reached to ca. 200 Oe.

Abstract: Magnesium alloys have been received an attention for structural applications due to their low density compared to other alloys, and intensive studies have been focused for enhancing mechanical strength and surface protection as well. Especially, for environmental reasonings, coating processes in a dry condition have been recently received a great attention. In this study, diffusion coatings via Al powders with an aluminum chloride activator have been investigated in order to examine surface protection effect on magnesium alloys. The commercial AZ31 magnesium alloy has been subjected to diffusion coatings in an Al alloy powder for various time frames. An intermediate layer of Mg17Ag12 was successfully synthesized via diffusion annealing. The underlying mechanisms for surface layer formation are discussed together with growth kinetics and microstructural observations

Abstract: Shot peening is a common procedure to improve the static and cyclic strength of metal components by a combination of work hardening and the introduction of compressive stresses into the surface region. Our investigations through the last years showed that high compressive stresses of more than 1 GPa can also be introduced in brittle ceramics under specific shot peening conditions. These stresses significantly increase the near-surface strength. Based on the findings for ceramics, shot peening procedures have now been developed for cemented carbides and hard chromium platings. Recent investigations showed that, due to the higher fracture toughness of cemented carbides, shot peening could be performed using higher peening intensities leading to a higher gain in strength properties. Although chromium platings are less brittle than ceramics, shot peening of these layers are very challenging due to the formation of a micro-crack network being typically for these coatings. Nevertheless, first results indicate the possibility of a successfully shot peening of these coatings.

Abstract: The lecture will give an overview of the manufacturing technique of ceramic target materials based on ZnO and TiO2. Sintering and plasma spraying techniques are typically used. Also special bonding procedures have to be established in order to join ceramic target materials to metallic carriers. Metallic and ceramic target materials will be compared with respect to target materials processing and sputtering experiences as well. In addition planar and cylindrical targets will be briefly discussed as sputtering of large substrates is strongly moving towards cylindrical cathode applications.

Abstract: Diamond like carbon layers play a key role in industrial applications. However the layers quality deteriorates often due to insufficient interfacial adhesion. In this research work a prior plasma treatment of steel substrates was employed aimed to improve the interfacial adhesion of DLC-layers to steel substrates. Three different kinds of steels were employed and their microstructures as well as their compositions before and after plasma treatment were analyzed. The interfacial adhesion of DLC layers on the non-nitrided and nitrided steels was observed and the influence of the steel microstructure on the interfacial adhesion was studied.

Abstract: Amorphous carbon nitride (a-CNx) thin films were deposited by rf-reactive sputtering method using a graphite target, and after deposition the films were exposed to oxygen plasma. The effect of the oxygen plasma exposure on the morphology and chemical bonding states of the film surface has been studied. Film composition and the chemical bonding states were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Film surface was observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM observations have revealed that the as-deposited film surface is uniformly covered with particle-like features in the early stage of deposition and the surface changes to be covered with broccoli-like features with increasing the deposition time and correspondingly the surface roughness increases, while after exposure to oxygen plasma, the film surface was etched selectively and the surface roughness increases with the plasma exposure time. It should be noted that the etching behavior depends on the film deposition temperatures. XPS studies have shown that after exposure to oxygen plasma the change in the bonding states in the films prepared at 853 K is different from that in the films prepared at RT.

Abstract: The effect of high magnetic field annealing on the nucleation sites for recrystallized nuclei with {111}<112> orientation in the initial stage of recrystallization in as-annealed interstitial-free (IF) steel sheet were investigated by the SEM-EBSD analysis. Specimens of cold rolled IF steel sheet were annealed at 650°C for 0min and 10min respectively with a 12-tesla magnetic field to obtain a partially recrystallized microstructure. During the magnetic field annealing, they were respectively placed at the center of the applied field with their rolling planes parallel to the magnetic field direction (MD), and with their rolling direction (RD) parallel and normal to the MD, respectively. It was found that different to the non-field annealed specimen, in the field annealed specimens, the {111}<112> oriented recrystallized nulei favored to nucleate in the {111}<112> deformed matrix and not in the {111}<110> deformed matrix. This phenomenon may be attributed to the magnetic ordered state induced by the magnetic field, which might suppress the formation of high-energy grain boundaries between the newly formed nuclei and the deformed matrix.

Abstract: Carbonitriding is a metallurgical surface modification technique that is widely used in the automotive industry to increase surface hardness and wear resistance. Given the problems associated with carbonitriding, such as dimensional distortion, oxidation and non-uniform surface hardness, nitrocarburizing has been proposed as an alternative heat treatment method to improve the surface characteristics. The major advantages of ferritic nitrocarburizing are the minimal dimensional changes and distortion due to the low process temperature at which no phase transformations occur. This increases productivity and product quality, and decreases costs. The focus of this study was to determine the effects of carbonitriding and ferritic nitrocarburizing processes on the dimensional changes and residual stresses in a steel used for automotive applications. Navy C-ring specimens and prototype stamped parts made from SAE 1010 plain carbon steel were used in the testing. Gas, vacuum and ion ferritic nitrocarburizing processes with different heat treatment parameters were investigated. X-ray diffraction techniques were used for the residual stresses evaluation and surface phase analysis of the specimens.

Abstract: This study investigated the effect of lead on the whisker growth of a tin film that was the electrodeposited on a phosphor bronze substrate. Subsequent FE-AES observation revealed that the whisker growth on the electrodeposited tin film varied depending on the morphology of the oxide film. The whisker growth was suppressed concomitantly with thinness or fragility of the oxide film formed on the tin deposits. The whisker growth was also suppressed concomitantly with the lead co-deposition in the tin deposits. In the Sn/Sn-Pb multilayer, because the lead between the tin film and the substrate was transferred to the surface, the whisker growth was also suppressed. This whisker growth suppression effect caused by the existence of a lead in the tin deposits was attributed to the oxide film thinning and embrittlement, depending on the lead transfer to the surface at room temperature.