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Oxidation Behavior and Mechanisms of TiAlN/VN Coatings

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Abstract

Hard wear-resistant coatings require excellent oxidation resistance for high-speed machining operations. Moreover, the oxide formed is integral to the frictional behavior and therefore the success of the coating. The oxidation behavior of TiAlN/VN nanoscale multilayer coatings was investigated using high-resolution techniques and was compared with TiN and TiAlN coatings. Static oxidation of TiAlN/VN films was studied in the range 550 °C to 700 °C, and characterized by high-temperature in-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning transmission electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray/electron energy loss spectroscopy (STEM/EDX/EELS) of selected surface cross sections. The oxidation resistance of TiAlN/VN was found to be controlled by the VN layers, and consequently, oxidation was initiated at a lower temperature than TiN and TiAlN coatings. The onset of oxidation of the TiAlN/VN coating was found to be ≥550 °C with the VN being the first component to oxidize. At temperatures >600 °C, a duplex oxide structure was formed; the inner layer comprised a porous region of Ti-rich and V-rich nanocrystallites, while several phases were observed in the outer region, including V2O5, TiO2, and AlVO4. V2O5 was the dominant oxide at the outer layer at ≥638 °C. The outward diffusion of V depended on the species present; in the inner layer, V was present as V3+, V4+, whereas a significant V5+ was dominant in the outer layer of oxide at ≥638 °C. An Au marker study suggested roughly equal diffusivity of cations outward, and oxygen inward diffusion occurred during oxidation.

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  1. PHILIPS is a trademark of Philips Electronic Instruments Corp. Mahwah, NJ.

  2. Gatan is a trademark of Gatan Inc., Pleasanton, CA.

  3. JEOL is a trademark of Japan Electron Optics Ltd., Tokyo.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to EPSRC for funding through Grant No. GR/N23998/01.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering Materials, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 3JD, United Kingdom

    Z. Zhou (Postdoctoral Research Assistant), W.M. Rainforth (Professor), C. Rodenburg (Royal Society Research Fellow) & N.C. Hyatt (Lecturer, Dr.)

  2. Materials Engineering Research Institute, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, S1 1WB, United Kingdom

    D.B. Lewis (Lecturer) & P.E. Hovsepian (Professor)

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  1. Z. Zhou
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  2. W.M. Rainforth
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  3. C. Rodenburg
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  4. N.C. Hyatt
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  6. P.E. Hovsepian
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Correspondence to W.M. Rainforth.

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Manuscript submitted July 27, 2006.

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Zhou, Z., Rainforth, W., Rodenburg, C. et al. Oxidation Behavior and Mechanisms of TiAlN/VN Coatings. Metall Mater Trans A 38, 2464–2478 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-007-9293-4

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