Insights into the oxidation resistance mechanism and tribological behaviors of multilayered TiSiN/CrVxN hard coatings

In the last decades,vanadium alloyed coatings have been introduced as potential candidates for self-lubrication due to their perfect tribological properties.In this work,the influence of V incorporation on the wear performance and oxidation resistance of TiSiN/CrN film coatings deposited by direct current(DC)reactive magnetron sputtering is investigated.The results show that vanadium incorporation significantly decreases the oxidation resistance of the coatings.In general,two layers are formed during the oxidation process:i)Ti(V)O_(2) on top,followed by a protective layer,which is subdivided into two layers,Cr_(2)O_(3) and Si-O.ii)The diffusion of V controls the oxidation of V-containing coatings.The addition of vanadium improves the wear resistance of coatings,and the wear rate decreases with increasing V content in the coatings;however,the friction coefficient is independent of the chemical composition of the coatings.The wear of the V-containing coatings is driven by polishing wear.

Surface Modification With Zinc and Zn-Ni Alloy Compositionally Modulated Multilayer Coatings

Zinc and Zn-Ni alloy compositionally modulated multilayer （CMM） coatings were electrodeposited on to a steel substrate by the successive deposition of zinc and Zn-Ni alloy sublayers from dual baths. The coated samples were evaluated in terms of the surface appearance, surface and cross-sectional morphologies, as well as corrosion resistance. The microstructural characteristics that were examined using the field emission gun scanning electron microscopy （FEGSEM） confirmed the layered structure, grain refinement of the zinc and Zn-Ni alloy CMM coatings, and revealed the existence of microcracks caused by the internal stress in the thick Zn-Ni alloy sublayers. The corrosion resistance that was evaluated by means of the salt spray test shows that the zinc and Zn-Ni alloy CMM coatings were more corrosion-resistant than the monolithic coatings of zinc or Zn-Ni alloy of the same thickness. The possible reasons for the better protective performance of Zn-Ni/Zn CMM coatings were given on the basis of the analysis on the micrographic features of zinc and Zn-Ni alloy CMM eoatings after the corrosion test. A probable corrosion mechanism of zinc and Zn-Ni alloy CMM coatings was also proposed.

Corrosion behaviors of zinc and Zn-Ni alloy compositionally modulated multilayer coatings

Zinc and Zn-Ni alloy compositionally modulated multilayer （CMM） coatings were electrodeposited from dual baths. The coated samples were evaluated in terms of surface appearance, surface and cross-sectional morphologies, as well as corrosion resistance. The results obtained from the salt spray test show that the zinc and Zn-Ni alloy CMM coatings are more corrosion-resistant than the monolithic coatings of zinc or Zn-Ni alloy alone with a similar thickness. The corrosion potential measurement and anodic polarisation tests were undertaken to examine the probable corrosion mechanisms of zinc and Zn-Ni alloy CMM coatings. Analysis on the micrographic features of zinc and Zn-Ni alloy CMM coatings after the corrosion test explains the probable reasons why the Zn-Ni/Zn CMM coatings have a better protective performance. Surface morphologies and compositional analysis of the remaining coating material of Zn-Ni alloy deposit after the corrosion test confirms the dezincification mechanism of the Zn-Ni alloy deposit during the corrosion process.

Pulsed DC plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposited TiN/Ti(C,N) multilayer coatings

TiN single coatings and TiN/Ti(C,N) multilayer coatings deposited on Cr12MoV substrate have been completed by pulsed DC plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition(PCVD) process. The SEM, XRD and microvicker’s hardness as well as the indentation test were used to study the microstructure and mechanical properties of TiN/Ti(C,N) multilayer coatings. The results show that TiN/Ti(C,N) coatings are fine and have free column structure, and carbon atoms take the place of some nitrogen atoms in Ti(C,N) coatings when lower flow ratio of CH 4 is used. The microvicker’s hardness and interfacial adhesion between TiN/Ti(C,N) coatings and Cr12MoV substrate increases more obviously than that of TiN single hard coatings due to the more dense and free column structure when process is optimized.

Corrosion Performance of Zinc and Zinc-cobalt Alloy Compositionally Modulated Multilayer (CMM) Coatings

Varieties of zinc and Zn-Co alloy compositionally modulated multilayer （CMM） coatings were electrodeposited onto steel substrates using dual bath technique. The surface and cross-sectional morphologies of coated samples were examined using scanning electron microscopy （ SEM ）. The existence of iuternal stress in ZnCo alloy deposits was confirmed by the cross-sectional morphalogies for the occurrence of micro-cracks in the thick Zn-Co alloy deposit alone. The corrosion performance was evaluated using neutral salt spray testing, corrosion potential measurement and anodic polarization methods. The experimental results slum, that the zinc and Zn- Co alloy CMM coatings were more corrosion-resistant than the monolithic coatings of zinc or Zn-Co alloy alone with a similar thickness. The analysis on the micrographic features of zinc and Zn-Co alloy CMM coatings, using field emission gun scanning electron microscopy （FEGSEM） after corrosion testing, explains the probable reusons why the Zn-Co/ Zn CMM coating system has a better protective performance.

Influence of Ar/N_2 Flow Rate on Structure and Property for TaN/NbN Multilayered Coatings

TaN/NbN multilayered coatings with nanoscale bilayer periods were synthesized at different Ar/N2 flow rates by RF （radio frequency） magnetron sputtering. XRD （X-ray diffraction） and Nano Indenter System were employed to investigate the influence of Ar/N2 flow rate （FAr：FN2） on microstructure and mechanical properties of the coatings. The low-angle XRD pattern indicated a well-defined composition modulation and layer structure of the multilayered coating. All multilayered coatings almost revealed higher hardness than the rule-of-mixtures value of monolithic TaN and NbN coatings. At FAr：FN2=10, the multilayered coating possessed desirable hardness, elastic modulus, internal stress, and fracture resistance, compared with ones synthesized at other Ar/N2 flow rates. The layered structure with strong mixture of TaN （110）, （111）, （200） and Nb2N （101）textures should be related to the enhanced mechanical properties.

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND ANTI-WEARABILITY STUDIES OF MULTILAYER THIN COATINGS ON CUTTING TOOLS

The naniondentation fracture of multilayer hard coatings, such as TiN, TiN/Ti(C, N)/TiC, TiN/Ti (C,N)/TiC/Ti (C, N)/TiC and TiN/Ti (C, N)/TiC/Ti (C,N)/TiC/Ti(C,N)/TiC coating, deposited on cemented carbide using a CVD technique are studied. It is found that these coatings have high hardness. Based on the analysis of the energy release in cracking, the fracture toughness of these coatings are calculated. The observations clearly establish a step occurs in the force-displacement curves at the onset of coating fracture and a straight line segment in the load-penetration depth squared curves to idenntify the interfacial failure of coatings. The hardness, fracture toughness and anti-wearability of these coatings are clearly compared. The results show that with the layers increasing, the fracture toughness and anti-wearbility are getting larger.

TiN/CrN multilayered hard coatings with TiCrN interlayer deposited by a filtered cathodic vacuum arc technique

TiN/CrN multilayered hard coatings with TiCrN interlayer were deposited onhigh speed steel substrates by using a filtered cathodic vacuum arc technique. The structure andcomposition of the coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Augerelectron spectroscopy (AES). A high adhesion of up to 80 N was demonstrated by scratching tests forthe multi-layered coatings. Nanoindentation tests were performed to determine the hardness andelastic modulus of the coatings as a function of the multiplayer modulation period. It was observedthat the hardness of the multilayered coatings is higher than those of either TiN or CrN singlecoatings, and it increases with decreasing modulation periods, which is consistent with predictionsfrom the Hall-Petch type strengthening mechanism, though at small modulation periods, deviation fromthe Hall-Petch relation has been observed for the multilayered coatings. The life-span of drillscoated with TiN/CrN multilayered is triple as long as that coated with TiN layer.

Electrodeposition of Compositionally Modulated Zinc-cobalt Alloy Multilayer Coatings

The effects of pulse parameters on the cobalt content, surface morphologies and grain size of Zn-Co alloy deposits were studied using a pulse plating technique with a square-wave current containing reverse pulse. Average current density and reverse anodic current density amongst the variables investigated have very strong effects on the cobalt content in the Zn-Co alloy deposits. Grain size, surface appearance and internal stress in the deposit were improved significantly by introducing the reverse current. Varieties of Zn-Co alloy compositionally modulated multilayer (CMM) coatings with large differences in cobalt contents for different sublayers were electrodeposited by designing corresponding waveforms using a computer-aided pulse plater and characterized in terms of surface morphologies. Cross-sectional morphologies of the Zn-Co alloy CMM coatings, examined using field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEGSEM), confirmed the layered structure.

Microstructure and physical properties of PVD TiN/(Ti, Al)N multilayer coatings

Magnetron sputtered (Ti, Al)N monolayer and TiN/(Ti, Al)N multilayer coatings grown on cemented carbide substrates were studied by using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), nanoindentation, Rockwell A indentation test, strength measurements and cutting tests. The results show that the (Ti, Al)N monolayer and TiN/(Ti, Al)N multilayer coatings perform good affinity to substrate, and the TiN/(Ti, Al)N multilayer coating exhibits higher hardness, higher toughness and better cutting performance compared with the (Ti, Al)N monolayer coating. Moreover, the strength measurement indicates that the physical vapour deposition (PVD) coating has no effect on the substrate strength.

Thermal Residual Stresses in Multilayered Coatings

The mechanical integrity and reliability of coated devices are strongly affected by the residual stresses in thin films and coatings. However, due to the metallurgical complexity of materials, it is rather difficult to obtain a closed-form solution of residual stresses within multilayered coatings （e.g. functionally graded coatings, FGCs）. In this paper,an analytical model is developed to predict the distribution of residual stresses within multilayered coatings. The advantage of this model is that the solution of residual stresses is independent of the number of layers. Specific results are obtained by calculating elastic thermal stresses in ZrO2/NiCoCrAIY FGCs, which consist of different material layers. Furthermore, the residual stress distribution near the edges and the stress-induced failure modes of coating are also analyzed. The topics discussed provide some insights into the development of a methodology for designing fail-safe coating systems.

MEASUREMENT OF INTERNAL STRESSES OF METAL MULTILAYER COMPOSITE COATINGS

The principle, formula and determination of internal stresses of metal multilayer composite coatings by means of the bending strip method were studied. Using this method, internal stresses of ion-plated metal multilayer composite coatings and thick monolayer coating of aluminium bronze, stainless steel and nickel-iron alloy were determined. The reason of decrement in internal stresses of multilayer composite coatings was discussed.

Multilayered gradient CrN/ZrN coatings synthesized by magnetron sputtering

The multilayer gradient CrN/ZrN coatings were synthesized by a dual cathode DC magnetron sputtering.The influence of different species of reaction gases and partial pressures on structure and mechanical properties was investigated using XRD, AES, XPS, and nanoindentation. The results show that N2-NH3 mixture process gas is of benefit to the synthesis of superhard multilayered gradient CrN/ZrN coatings. The presence of the preferred orientations of CrN(111), (200) and ZrN (111), (220) in the structure is a main reason for superhardness of multilayered gradient coatings.

Dual Bath Electrodeposition of Alternate Multilayer Coatings of Zinc and Nickel Deposits

The synthesis of zinc and nickel alternate multilayer coatings produced by successive deposition from dual baths containing a revised zinc sulphate electrolyte and a new developed nickel bath has been investigated. Smooth and uniform zinc-nickel compositionally modulated multilayered (CMM) coatings with different multilayer configurations were obtained. The surface and cross-sectional morphologies of samples were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cross-sectional morphology showed the layered structure of the coatings clearly.

Ti/(Ti,Cr)N/CrN multilayer coated 316L stainless steel by arc ion plating as bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Arc ion plating (AIP) is applied to form Ti/(Ti,Cr)N/CrN multilayer coating on the surface of 316L stainless steel (SS316L) as bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The characterizations of the coating are analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Interfacial contact resistance (ICR) between the coated sample and carbon paper is 4.9 m Omega cm(2) under 150 N/cm(2), which is much lower than that of the SS316L substrate. Potentiodynamic and potentiostatic tests are performed in the simulated PEMFC working conditions to investigate the corrosion behaviors of the coated sample. Superior anticorrosion performance is observed for the coated sample, whose corrosion current density is 0.12 mu A/cm(2). Surface morphology results after corrosion tests indicate that the substrate is well protected by the multilayer coating. Performances of the single cell with the multilayer coated SS316L bipolar plate are improved significantly compared with that of the cell with the uncoated SS316L bipolar plate, presenting a great potential for PEMFC application. (C) 2016 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press. All rights reserved.

Multilayer ceramic coating for impeding corrosion of sintered NdFeB magnets

Sintered NdFeB magnets have complex microstructure that makes them susceptible to corrosion in active environments.The current paper evaluated the anticorrosion characteristics of multilayer titanium nitride ceramic coating applied through cathodic arc physical vapour deposition(CAPVD) for protection of sintered NdFeB permanent magnets.The performance of ceramic coating was compared to the electrodeposited nickel coating having a copper interlayer.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) and cyclic polar...

Effect of cathode composition on microstructure and tribological properties of TiBN nanocomposite multilayer coating synthesized by plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition

Nanocomposite multilayer TiBN coatings were prepared on Si(100) and 9Cr18Mo substrates using TiBN composite cathode plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition technique(PIIID). Synthesis of TiBN composite cathodes was conducted by powder metallurgy technology and the content of hexagonal boron nitride(h-BN) was changed from 8% to 40%(mass fraction). The as-deposited coatings were characterized by energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS), grazing incidence X-ray diffraction(GIXRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy(FTIR) and high resolution transmission electron microcopy(HRTEM). EDS results show that the B content of the coatings was varied from 3.71% to 13.84%(molar fraction) when the composition of the h-BN in the composited cathodes was changed from 8 % to 40%(mass fraction). GIXRD results reveal that the TiBN coatings with a B content of 8% has the main diffraction peak of TiN(200),(220) and(311), and these peaks disappear when the B content is increased. FTIR analysis of the multilayer coatings showed the presence of h-BN in all coatings. TEM images reveal that all coatings have the characteristics of self-forming nanocomposite multilayers, where the nanocomposites are composed of face-centered cubic Ti N or h-BN nanocrystalline embedded in amorphous matrix. The tribological tests reveal that the Ti BN coatings exhibit a marked decrease of coefficient at room temperature(~0.25). The improved properties were found to be derived from the comprehensiveness of the self-forming multilayers structure and the h-BN solid lubrication effects in the coatings.

A modified single edge V-notched beam method for evaluating surface fracture toughness of thermal barrier coatings

The surface fracture toughness is an important mechanical parameter for studying the failure behavior of air plasma sprayed(APS)thermal barrier coatings(TBCs).As APS TBCs are typical multilayer porous ceramic materials,the direct applications of the traditional single edge notched beam(SENB)method that ignores those typical structural characters may cause errors.To measure the surface fracture toughness more accurately,the effects of multilayer and porous characters on the fracture toughness of APS TBCs should be considered.In this paper,a modified single edge V-notched beam(MSEVNB)method with typical structural characters is developed.According to the finite element analysis(FEA),the geometry factor of the multilayer structure is recalculated.Owing to the narrower V-notches,a more accurate critical fracture stress is obtained.Based on the Griffith energy balance,the reduction of the crack surface caused by micro-defects is corrected.The MSEVNB method can measure the surface fracture toughness more accurately than the SENB method.