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Hardness evolution of Al–Cr–N coatings under thermal load

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Herbert Willmann ,
Paul H. Mayrhofer ,
Lars Hultman  and
Christian Mitterer
Herbert Willmann
Affiliation:
Materials Center Leoben, 8700 Leoben, Austria; and Thin Film Physics Division, Department of Physics (IFM), Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
Paul H. Mayrhofer*
Affiliation:
Department of Physical Metallurgy and Materials Testing, Montanuniversität Leoben, 8700 Leoben, Austria
Lars Hultman
Affiliation:
Thin Film Physics Division, Department of Physics (IFM), Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
Christian Mitterer
Affiliation:
Christian Doppler Laboratory for Advanced Hard Coatings at the Department of Physical Metallurgy and Materials Testing, Montanuniversität Leoben, 8700 Leoben, Austria
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: paul.mayrhofer@unileoben.ac.at
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Abstract

Microstructure and hardness evolution of arc-evaporated single-phase cubic Al0.56Cr0.44N and Al0.68Cr0.32N coatings have been investigated after thermal treatment in Ar atmosphere. Based on a combination of differential scanning calorimetry and x-ray diffraction studies, we can conclude that Al0.56Cr0.44N undergoes only small structural changes without any decomposition for annealing temperatures Ta ⩽ 900 °C. Consequently, the hardness decreases only marginally from the as-deposited value of 30.0 ± 1.1 GPa to 29.4 ± 0.9 GPa with Ta increasing to 900 °C, respectively. The film with higher Al content (Al0.68Cr0.32N) exhibits formation of hexagonal (h) AlN at Ta ⩾ 700 °C, which occurs preferably at grain boundaries as identified by analytical transmission electron microscopy. Hence, the hardness increases from the as-deposited value of 30.1 ± 1.3 GPa to 31.6 ± 1.4 GPa with Ta = 725 °C. At higher temperatures, where the size and volume fraction of the h-AlN phase increases, the hardness decreases to 27.5 ± 1.0 GPa with Ta = 900 °C.

Keywords

CoatingHardnessPhysical vapor deposition (PVD)
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 23 , Issue 11 , November 2008 , pp. 2880 - 2885
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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