Abstract
TiSiC-Cr coatings, with Cr and Si as additional elements, were deposited on Si, C 45 and 316 L steel substrates via cathodic arc evaporation. Two series of coatings with thicknesses in the range of 3.6–3.9 μm were produced, using either CH 4 or C 2 H 2 as carbon containing gas. For each series, different coatings were prepared by varying the carbon rich gas flow rate between 90 and 130 sccm, while maintaining constant cathode currents (110 and 100 A at TiSi and Cr cathodes, respectively), substrate bias (–200 V) and substrate temperature (∼320 °C). The coatings were analyzed for their mechanical characteristics (hardness, adhesion) and tribological performance (friction, wear), along with their elemental and phase composition, chemical bonds, crystalline structure and cross-sectional morphology. The coatings were found to be formed with nano-scale composite structures consisting of carbide crystallites (grain size of 3.1–8.2 nm) and amorphous hydrogenated carbon. The experimental results showed significant differences between the two coating series, where the films formed from C 2 H 2 exhibited markedly superior characteristics in terms of microstructure, morphology, hardness, friction behaviour and wear resistance. For the coatings prepared using CH 4 , the measured values of crystallite size, hardness, friction coefficient and wear rate were in the ranges of 7.2–8.2 nm, 26–30 GPa, 0.3–0.4 and 2.1–4.8 × 10 −6 mm 3 N −1 m −1 , respectively, while for the coatings grown in C 2 H 2 , the values of these characteristics were found to be in the ranges of 3.1–3.7 nm, 41–45 GPa, 0.1–0.2 and 1.4–3.0 × 10 −6 mm 3 N −1 m −1 , respectively. Among the investigated coatings, the one produced using C 2 H 2 at the highest flow rate (130 sccm) exhibited the highest hardness (45.1 GPa), the lowest friction coefficient (0.10) and the best wear resistance (wear rate of 1.4 × 10 −6 mm 3 N −1 m −1 ).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 318-328 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Applied Surface Science |
| Volume | 400 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Apr 2017 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Cathodic arc
- Friction and wear
- Mechanical properties
- Structure
- TiSiC-Cr coatings
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Cite this
A comparative study of the structural, mechanical and tribological characteristics of TiSiC-Cr coatings prepared in CH 4 and C 2 H 2 reactive atmosphere by cathodic vacuum arc. / Braic, Mariana; Vladescu, Alina; Balaceanu, Mihai; Luculescu, Catalin; Padmanabhan, Sibu C.; Constantin, Lidia; Morris, Michael A.; Braic, Viorel; Ana Grigorescu, Cristiana Eugenia; Ionescu, Paul; Dracea, Maria Diana; Logofatu, Constantin.
In: Applied Surface Science, Vol. 400, 01.04.2017, p. 318-328.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A comparative study of the structural, mechanical and tribological characteristics of TiSiC-Cr coatings prepared in CH 4 and C 2 H 2 reactive atmosphere by cathodic vacuum arc
AU - Braic, Mariana
AU - Vladescu, Alina
AU - Balaceanu, Mihai
AU - Luculescu, Catalin
AU - Padmanabhan, Sibu C.
AU - Constantin, Lidia
AU - Morris, Michael A.
AU - Braic, Viorel
AU - Ana Grigorescu, Cristiana Eugenia
AU - Ionescu, Paul
AU - Dracea, Maria Diana
AU - Logofatu, Constantin
PY - 2017/4/1
Y1 - 2017/4/1
N2 - TiSiC-Cr coatings, with Cr and Si as additional elements, were deposited on Si, C 45 and 316 L steel substrates via cathodic arc evaporation. Two series of coatings with thicknesses in the range of 3.6–3.9 μm were produced, using either CH 4 or C 2 H 2 as carbon containing gas. For each series, different coatings were prepared by varying the carbon rich gas flow rate between 90 and 130 sccm, while maintaining constant cathode currents (110 and 100 A at TiSi and Cr cathodes, respectively), substrate bias (–200 V) and substrate temperature (∼320 °C). The coatings were analyzed for their mechanical characteristics (hardness, adhesion) and tribological performance (friction, wear), along with their elemental and phase composition, chemical bonds, crystalline structure and cross-sectional morphology. The coatings were found to be formed with nano-scale composite structures consisting of carbide crystallites (grain size of 3.1–8.2 nm) and amorphous hydrogenated carbon. The experimental results showed significant differences between the two coating series, where the films formed from C 2 H 2 exhibited markedly superior characteristics in terms of microstructure, morphology, hardness, friction behaviour and wear resistance. For the coatings prepared using CH 4 , the measured values of crystallite size, hardness, friction coefficient and wear rate were in the ranges of 7.2–8.2 nm, 26–30 GPa, 0.3–0.4 and 2.1–4.8 × 10 −6 mm 3 N −1 m −1 , respectively, while for the coatings grown in C 2 H 2 , the values of these characteristics were found to be in the ranges of 3.1–3.7 nm, 41–45 GPa, 0.1–0.2 and 1.4–3.0 × 10 −6 mm 3 N −1 m −1 , respectively. Among the investigated coatings, the one produced using C 2 H 2 at the highest flow rate (130 sccm) exhibited the highest hardness (45.1 GPa), the lowest friction coefficient (0.10) and the best wear resistance (wear rate of 1.4 × 10 −6 mm 3 N −1 m −1 ).
AB - TiSiC-Cr coatings, with Cr and Si as additional elements, were deposited on Si, C 45 and 316 L steel substrates via cathodic arc evaporation. Two series of coatings with thicknesses in the range of 3.6–3.9 μm were produced, using either CH 4 or C 2 H 2 as carbon containing gas. For each series, different coatings were prepared by varying the carbon rich gas flow rate between 90 and 130 sccm, while maintaining constant cathode currents (110 and 100 A at TiSi and Cr cathodes, respectively), substrate bias (–200 V) and substrate temperature (∼320 °C). The coatings were analyzed for their mechanical characteristics (hardness, adhesion) and tribological performance (friction, wear), along with their elemental and phase composition, chemical bonds, crystalline structure and cross-sectional morphology. The coatings were found to be formed with nano-scale composite structures consisting of carbide crystallites (grain size of 3.1–8.2 nm) and amorphous hydrogenated carbon. The experimental results showed significant differences between the two coating series, where the films formed from C 2 H 2 exhibited markedly superior characteristics in terms of microstructure, morphology, hardness, friction behaviour and wear resistance. For the coatings prepared using CH 4 , the measured values of crystallite size, hardness, friction coefficient and wear rate were in the ranges of 7.2–8.2 nm, 26–30 GPa, 0.3–0.4 and 2.1–4.8 × 10 −6 mm 3 N −1 m −1 , respectively, while for the coatings grown in C 2 H 2 , the values of these characteristics were found to be in the ranges of 3.1–3.7 nm, 41–45 GPa, 0.1–0.2 and 1.4–3.0 × 10 −6 mm 3 N −1 m −1 , respectively. Among the investigated coatings, the one produced using C 2 H 2 at the highest flow rate (130 sccm) exhibited the highest hardness (45.1 GPa), the lowest friction coefficient (0.10) and the best wear resistance (wear rate of 1.4 × 10 −6 mm 3 N −1 m −1 ).
KW - Cathodic arc
KW - Friction and wear
KW - Mechanical properties
KW - Structure
KW - TiSiC-Cr coatings
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85008158259&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85008158259&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.12.160
DO - 10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.12.160
M3 - Article
VL - 400
SP - 318
EP - 328
JO - Applied Surface Science
JF - Applied Surface Science
SN - 0169-4332
ER -