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Ti-Al-N coatings were deposited by direct current magnetron sputtering (DCMS) onto IN 718 at different nitrogen flow rates and deposition temperatures. The coatings’ properties were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well as nanoindentation. It was found that higher deposition temperature leads to higher surface roughness and nitrogen flux influences the shape of grains. According to XPS, the bonding structure of all coatings exhibited the (Ti,Al)N phase. Mechanical properties depend on the Al content within the films. The coating with the best mechanical properties (deposited at 500 °C and 20 standard cubic centimeters per minute (sccm)) was further deposited onto tungsten carbide (WC) cutting tools for cylindrical turning experiments. A quasi-constant flank wear was observed until a machining volume of 23,500 mm³.
MAX phases (M = transition metal, A = A-group element, and X = C/N) are of special interest because they possess a unique combination of the advantages of both metals and ceramics. Most attention is attracted to the ternary carbide Cr2AlC because of its excellent high-temperature oxidation, as well as hot corrosion resistance. Despite lots of publications, up to now the influence of bias voltage on the chemical bonding structure, surface morphology, and mechanical properties of the film is still not well understood. In the current study, Cr-Al-C films were deposited on silicon wafers (100) and Inconel 718 super alloy by dc magnetron sputtering with different substrate bias voltages and investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and nanoindentation. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was used to analyze the correlation between the growth of the films and the coating microstructure. The XPS results confirm the presence of Cr2AlC MAX phase due to a negative shift of 0.6–0.9 eV of the Al2p to pure aluminum carbide peak. The XRD results reveal the presence of Cr2AlC MAX Phase and carbide phases, as well as intermetallic AlCr2. The film thickness decreases from 8.95 to 6.98 µm with increasing bias voltage. The coatings deposited at 90 V exhibit the lowest roughness (33 nm) and granular size (76 nm) combined with the highest hardness (15.9 GPa). The ratio of Al carbide to carbide-like carbon state changes from 0.12 to 0.22 and correlates with the mechanical properties of the coatings. TEM confirms the columnar structure, with a nanocrystalline substructure, of the films.
Coatings like TiAlN (titanium content more than 50 %) or AlTiN (aluminium content more than 50 %) are well established as hard and wear resistant tool coatings, often prepared by physical vapour deposition (PVD) like arc evaporation or direct current magnetron sputtering (dcMS). With increasing challenges of operating conditions, a constant need in improvement of mechanical properties is required to withstand extreme loading conditions. This can be obtained by a higher amount of ionized sputtered metal atoms during the deposition process. To increase the metal-ion flux a high-power pulse magnetron sputtering (HPPMS) was developed. In order to understand the relation between HPPMS process parameters and mechanical properties of the AlTiN coatings, the present study discusses how different pulse frequencies (for a constant pulse length) influence AlTiN coating structure growth and their mechanical properties. In addition, film deposition rate and phase formation are influenced by altering process parameters like pulse length and frequency. Hence, different pulse-frequencies produce specific coatings with corresponding properties for functional requirements. Based on the established findings, answers to new scientific queries along with the demand to further optimize these coatings for tool applications are required.
Role of alloying elements during thermocyclic oxidation of β/γ-TiAl alloys at high temperatures
(2016)
Gamma titanium aluminides are promising alloys known for their good mechanical properties and low densities, but their low oxidation resistance at high temperatures limits their
application. This work discusses the thermocyclic oxidation behavior of newly developed β/γ-TiAl alloys at temperatures between 600 °C and 900 °C. An influence of β-stabilizing alloying elements like Nb and V on the oxidation of these alloys has been investigated here.
The selected alloys are tested in an in-house developed thermocyclic furnace. The oxidation
study is supported by gravimetric measurements along with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Electron Diffraction Spectroscopy (EDS) mapping of the oxide layers. Additionally, phase formation after oxidation has been determined using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Results show that the Nb containing alloys are more oxidation resistant as compared
to V containing alloys. The formation of a mixture of Al2O3 and TiO2 layers was found for all the alloys. The oxide kinetics controlled oxide growth and formation of
various phases at different testing temperatures.
Coating growth and mechanical properties of nanolamellar Cr2AlC coatings at various sputtering power were investigated in the present study. Cr2AlC coating was deposited on the IN 718 superalloy and (100) Si wafers by DC magnetron sputtering at different sputtering powers.
The structure and properties were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoindentation. It was found that coatings had columnar structure with nanocrystalline substructure. Deposition rate increased with the sputtering power. XRD results showed the presence of the Cr2AlC MAX phase, intermetallic
AlCr2 and Cr7C3 carbide phases, along with the change in preferential coating growth orientation. TEM observations confirmed the occurrence of these phases, and the SAED patterns demonstrated significant texture of the coatings. Hardness values were measured in the range between 11–14 GPa, showing a slight increase with the sputtering power.
Controlled ion bombardment is a popular method to fabricate desirable coating structures and modify their properties. Substrate biasing at high frequencies is a possible technique, which allows higher ion density at the substrate compared with DC current bias. Moreover, high ion energy along with controlled adatom mobility would lead to improved coating growth. This paper focuses on a similar type of study, where effects of coating growth and properties of DC magnetron-sputtered chromium nitride (CrxN) coatings at various substrate bias frequencies are discussed. CrxN coatings were deposited by pulsed DC magnetron sputtering on Inconel 718 and (100) silicon substrates at 110, 160 and 280 kHz frequency at low duty cycle. Coating microstructure and morphology were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scratch adhesion testing and nanoindentation. Results indicate a transformation of columnar into glassy structure of CrxN coatings with the substrate bias frequency increase. This transformation is attributed to preferential formation of the Cr2N phase at high frequencies compared with CrN at low frequencies. Increase in frequency leads to an increase in deposition rate, which is believed to be due to increase in plasma ion density and energy of the incident adatoms. An increase in coating hardness along with decrease in elastic modulus was observed at high frequencies. Scratch tests show a slight increase in coating adhesion, whereas no clear increase in coating roughness can be found with the substrate bias frequency.
Investigation of TiAlN HiPIMS coating deposited on the newly developed Ni-based superalloy AD730
(2016)
The development of new alloys for gas turbine engines has been focused on withstanding against increasing service temperatures. AD730™ is a recently developed nickel-based superalloy for turbine disk applications with superior
properties at 700°C, which is higher than the common service temperature for IN718. Use of coatings to enhance the properties of materials, such as wear resistance is widely known in various applications. This research presents an experimental study of TiAlN coatings, deposited onto AD730 superalloy using High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS). Phase structure and chemical composition of the TiAlN films were characterized by X-ray diffractometry. Transmission electron microscopy as well as scanning electron microscopy were used to analyze the
microstructure of the coating. Mechanical properties, including hardness, Young's modulus, and adhesion strength were measured using nanoindentation und scratch test.
Effect of pulse time on structure and mechanical properties of HPPMS deposited AlTiN coatings
(2016)
The use of PVD AlTiN as a protective coating on cutting tools is well known. With the introduction of pulsed deposition techniques like High Power Pulsed Sputtering
(HPPMS), a possibility is provided to the coating developers to design their coatings by the variation in pulse parameters. To analyze the effect of pulse time HPPMS
AlTiN coatings were deposited on Si (100) as well as 100Cr6 steel plates at a temperature of 500°C in a reactive gas environment. Oscilloscope measurements depicted a change in current-voltage characteristics with variation in pulse time. This influence the coating structure, deposition rates and phase formations as well. Nanoindentation results show a variation in the mechanical properties of the coatings with the change in pulse time. This study focuses on the potential of HPPMS technology for enhancement of mechanical and structural properties of AlTiN coating.