Abstract
This article reports on results of a systematic investigation of properties of hard Ti(Fe)Nx films reactively sputtered using a d.c. unbalanced magnetron. The Ti(Fe)Nx films with a low (≤15 at.%) Fe content were selected as a typical single-phase material to investigate an effect of the energy Epi, delivered to them during their growth by bombarding ions, on their physical and mechanical properties. In this investigation, the energy Epi per deposited volume was varied by the magnitude of a deposition rate aD because Epi[J/cm3]= Usis/ aD, where Us is the substrate bias, is is the substrate ion current density and aD is the film deposition rate. It was found that: (i) properties of sputtered films are a result of a combined action of physical and chemical processes controlled by the energy Epi and the film stoichiometry x =N/(Ti+Fe), respectively; (ii) Ti(Fe)Nx films can form a superhard material with hardness H ≥40 GPa; and (iii) superhard films with the highest hardness are: (a) formed in a transition region; (b) nearly stoichiometric with x ≈1; and (c) composed of a mixture of grains of different crystallographic orientations. The last finding makes it possible to explain the origin of the superhardness of single-phase materials. A special attention is devoted to mechanical properties of Ti(Fe)Nx films, particularly to relationships between hardness H , Young's modulus E , elastic recovery We and the ratio H3/E*2, which is proportional to a resistance of the material to plastic deformation, but also to dependences of these mechanical properties on energy Epi, deposition rate aD, average size Lc of grains and microstrain Eg generated in the film during its growth; here E*= E /(1- ν 2) is the effective Young's modulus and ν is the Poisson's ratio. Correlations between mechanical properties and modes of their sputtering are discussed in detail.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 289-298 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Surface and Coatings Technology |
| Volume | 177-178 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 30 Jan 2004 |
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Keywords
- Enhanced hardness
- Ion bombardment
- Physical and mechanical properties
- Reactive magnetron sputtering
- Single-phase films
- Ti(Fe)N
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Surfaces and Interfaces
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films
- Materials Chemistry
Cite this
Effect of ion bombardment on properties of hard reactively sputtered Ti(Fe)Nx films. / Musil, J.; Poláková, H.; Šuna, J.; Vlček, J.
In: Surface and Coatings Technology, Vol. 177-178, 30.01.2004, p. 289-298.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of ion bombardment on properties of hard reactively sputtered Ti(Fe)Nx films
AU - Musil, J.
AU - Poláková, H.
AU - Šuna, J.
AU - Vlček, J.
PY - 2004/1/30
Y1 - 2004/1/30
N2 - This article reports on results of a systematic investigation of properties of hard Ti(Fe)Nx films reactively sputtered using a d.c. unbalanced magnetron. The Ti(Fe)Nx films with a low (≤15 at.%) Fe content were selected as a typical single-phase material to investigate an effect of the energy Epi, delivered to them during their growth by bombarding ions, on their physical and mechanical properties. In this investigation, the energy Epi per deposited volume was varied by the magnitude of a deposition rate aD because Epi[J/cm3]= Usis/ aD, where Us is the substrate bias, is is the substrate ion current density and aD is the film deposition rate. It was found that: (i) properties of sputtered films are a result of a combined action of physical and chemical processes controlled by the energy Epi and the film stoichiometry x =N/(Ti+Fe), respectively; (ii) Ti(Fe)Nx films can form a superhard material with hardness H ≥40 GPa; and (iii) superhard films with the highest hardness are: (a) formed in a transition region; (b) nearly stoichiometric with x ≈1; and (c) composed of a mixture of grains of different crystallographic orientations. The last finding makes it possible to explain the origin of the superhardness of single-phase materials. A special attention is devoted to mechanical properties of Ti(Fe)Nx films, particularly to relationships between hardness H , Young's modulus E , elastic recovery We and the ratio H3/E*2, which is proportional to a resistance of the material to plastic deformation, but also to dependences of these mechanical properties on energy Epi, deposition rate aD, average size Lc of grains and microstrain Eg generated in the film during its growth; here E*= E /(1- ν 2) is the effective Young's modulus and ν is the Poisson's ratio. Correlations between mechanical properties and modes of their sputtering are discussed in detail.
AB - This article reports on results of a systematic investigation of properties of hard Ti(Fe)Nx films reactively sputtered using a d.c. unbalanced magnetron. The Ti(Fe)Nx films with a low (≤15 at.%) Fe content were selected as a typical single-phase material to investigate an effect of the energy Epi, delivered to them during their growth by bombarding ions, on their physical and mechanical properties. In this investigation, the energy Epi per deposited volume was varied by the magnitude of a deposition rate aD because Epi[J/cm3]= Usis/ aD, where Us is the substrate bias, is is the substrate ion current density and aD is the film deposition rate. It was found that: (i) properties of sputtered films are a result of a combined action of physical and chemical processes controlled by the energy Epi and the film stoichiometry x =N/(Ti+Fe), respectively; (ii) Ti(Fe)Nx films can form a superhard material with hardness H ≥40 GPa; and (iii) superhard films with the highest hardness are: (a) formed in a transition region; (b) nearly stoichiometric with x ≈1; and (c) composed of a mixture of grains of different crystallographic orientations. The last finding makes it possible to explain the origin of the superhardness of single-phase materials. A special attention is devoted to mechanical properties of Ti(Fe)Nx films, particularly to relationships between hardness H , Young's modulus E , elastic recovery We and the ratio H3/E*2, which is proportional to a resistance of the material to plastic deformation, but also to dependences of these mechanical properties on energy Epi, deposition rate aD, average size Lc of grains and microstrain Eg generated in the film during its growth; here E*= E /(1- ν 2) is the effective Young's modulus and ν is the Poisson's ratio. Correlations between mechanical properties and modes of their sputtering are discussed in detail.
KW - Enhanced hardness
KW - Ion bombardment
KW - Physical and mechanical properties
KW - Reactive magnetron sputtering
KW - Single-phase films
KW - Ti(Fe)N
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1342268149&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=1342268149&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2003.09.007
DO - 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2003.09.007
M3 - Article
VL - 177-178
SP - 289
EP - 298
JO - Surface and Coatings Technology
JF - Surface and Coatings Technology
SN - 0257-8972
ER -