Journal article
Designing superhard, self-toughening CrAlN coatings through grain boundary engineering
Acta Materialia, Vol.60(16), pp.5735-5744
2012
Abstract
One of the toughest challenges that hinders the application of ceramic coatings is their poor damage tolerance. Addressing this problem requires the development of novel micro- or nanostructures that would impart to these coatings both high hardness and high toughness. In this paper, CrAlN coatings, with varying Al contents up to 30 at.%, were engineered onto steel substrates using the magnetron sputtering technique. Whilst the addition of Al does not significantly alter the columnar microstructure, it does change the preferred grain orientation and increase the compressive residual stress. Moreover, the hardness, elastic strain to failure (H/E) and plastic deformation resistance (H 3/E 2) of the resultant CrAlN coating with the highest Al content were found to increase ∼47, ∼29 and ∼140%, respectively, as compared to CrN. Evidence collected from transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments shows that AlN, existing in an amorphous state at the columnar CrN grain boundaries, has a crucial role in providing the unusual combination of high hardness and exceptional damage resistance. The results provide a new pathway to developing durable ceramic coatings suitable for applications involving severe loading conditions.
Details
- Title
- Designing superhard, self-toughening CrAlN coatings through grain boundary engineering
- Authors/Creators
- Z. Li (Author/Creator) - Southeast UniversityP. Munroe (Author/Creator) - UNSW SydneyZ-T Jiang (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityX. Zhao (Author/Creator) - Edith Cowan UniversityJ. Xu (Author/Creator) - Nanjing University of Aeronautics and AstronauticsZ-F Zhou (Author/Creator) - City University of Hong KongJ-Q Jiang (Author/Creator) - Southeast UniversityF. Fang (Author/Creator) - Southeast UniversityZ-H Xie (Author/Creator) - The University of Adelaide
- Publication Details
- Acta Materialia, Vol.60(16), pp.5735-5744
- Publisher
- Elsevier Limited
- Identifiers
- 991005544393507891
- Copyright
- © 2012 Acta Materialia Inc.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Engineering and Energy
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 5 Physics
- 5.188 Deposition, Hardening & Coating
- 5.188.318 Nitride Coatings
- Web Of Science research areas
- Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
- Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
- ESI research areas
- Materials Science