The effect of carbon on the structural-phase state and tribomechanical properties of nanostructured TiAlCN coatings

  • Stanislav V. Konstantinov A. N. Sevchenko Institute of Applied Physical Problems, Belarusian State University, 7 Kurchatava Street, Minsk 220045, Belarus
  • Fadei F. Komarov A. N. Sevchenko Institute of Applied Physical Problems, Belarusian State University, 7 Kurchatava Street, Minsk 220045, Belarus
  • Igor V. Chizhov Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Valery A. Zaikov Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Vladimir V. Pilko A. N. Sevchenko Institute of Applied Physical Problems, Belarusian State University, 7 Kurchatava Street, Minsk 220045, Belarus

Abstract

Prospects for the use in modern mechanical engineering, nuclear power engineering and space technology of coatings resistant to a number of negative influences based on transition metal nitrides and carbonitrides formed by vacuum-plasma deposition methods are outlined. Nanostructured TiAlCN coatings with different concentrations of nitrogen and carbon were formed by reactive magnetron sputtering. The structural-phase state, elemental composition, morphology, as well as thicknesses of the obtained coatings are determined. Hardness (H), Young’s modulus (E), impact strength index (H/E∗) and friction coefficient of TiAlCN coatings were measured using nanoindentation according to the Oliver – Pharr method, as well as tribomechanical tests. The formed TiAlCN coatings have a single-phase structure of a disordered (Ti, Al)(C, N) solid solution with a face-centered cubic lattice. The average crystallite size of the (Ti, Al)(C, N) was in the range from (10 ± 5) to (60 ± 5) nm. The carbon concentration in TiAlCN coatings significantly affects the change in mechanical properties. At a low carbon concentration of 7.3 at. % (PN2 : PC2H2 = 2 : 1) TiAlCN coatings have sufficiently high hardness (more than 25 GPa) and impact strength. Increased carbon concentration of 30.3 at. % (PN2 : PC2H2 = 1 : 2) makes it possible to obtain TiAlCN coatings with higher hardness (above 32 GPa), at the same time, a decrease in impact strength (H/E ∗ ratio) is observed. The lowest friction coefficient (0.30 – 0.32) was demonstrated by TiAlCN coatings formed in regimes with nitrogen and acetylene reactive gases partial pressures ratios PN2 : PC2H2 = 2 : 1 and PN2 : PC2H2 = 1 : 2.

Author Biographies

Stanislav V. Konstantinov, A. N. Sevchenko Institute of Applied Physical Problems, Belarusian State University, 7 Kurchatava Street, Minsk 220045, Belarus

PhD (physics and mathematics), docent; senior researcher at the laboratory of elionics

Fadei F. Komarov, A. N. Sevchenko Institute of Applied Physical Problems, Belarusian State University, 7 Kurchatava Street, Minsk 220045, Belarus

doctor of science (physics and mathematics), academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, full professor; head of the laboratory of elionics

Igor V. Chizhov, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

postgraduate student at the department of physical electronics and nanotechnologies, faculty of radiophysics and computer technologies

Valery A. Zaikov, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

senior researcher at the department of physical electronics and nanotechnologies, faculty of radiophysics and computer technologies

Vladimir V. Pilko, A. N. Sevchenko Institute of Applied Physical Problems, Belarusian State University, 7 Kurchatava Street, Minsk 220045, Belarus

researcher at the laboratory of elionics

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Published
2023-10-28
Keywords: reactive magnetron sputtering, nanostructured TiAlCN coatings, structural-phase state, tribomechanical properties, nanoindentation, friction coefficient
How to Cite
Konstantinov, S. V., Komarov, F. F., Chizhov, I. V., Zaikov, V. A., & Pilko, V. V. (2023). The effect of carbon on the structural-phase state and tribomechanical properties of nanostructured TiAlCN coatings. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Physics, 3, 44-56. Retrieved from https://journals.bsu.by/index.php/physics/article/view/5559
Issue
No 3 (2023): Journal of the Belarusian State University. Physics
Section
Condensed State Physics

Copyright (c) 2023 Journal of the Belarusian State University. Physics

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