Optimizing the PVD TiN thin film coating’s parameters on aerospace AL7075-T6 alloy for higher coating hardness and adhesion with better tribological properties of the coating surface

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

An optimization study on the parameters of titanium nitride coating on aerospace Al7075-T6 alloy, using magnetron sputtering technique is presented. The effects of the temperature, DC bias voltage, rate of nitrogen, and DC power on the surface hardness, adhesion, surface roughness, and microstructure of the coated samples are investigated. Taguchi optimization method is used with the orthogonal array of L16 (44). However, to obtain the most optimum parameters for the best surface hardness, adhesion, and surface roughness, the signal to noise (S/N) response analysis method is implemented. Finally, the confirmation tests were carried out to show the improvement using the best parameters combination obtained from the optimization process. The improvement of 14 % in surface hardness, 4.15 % in adhesion, and 9.43 % in surface roughness are achieved.

Keywords

Aluminium7075-T6 alloy Titanium nitride coating Taguchi optimization method Coating surface characterization 

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. 1.
    Godja N, Kiss N, Löcker Ch, Schindel A, Gavrilovic A, Wosik J, Mann R, Wendrinsky J, Merstallinger A, Naure GE (2010) Preparation and characterization of spark-anodized Al-alloys: physical, chemical and tribological properties. Tribol Int 43:1253–1261CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. 2.
    Sadeler R, Atasoy S, Arici A, Totic Y (2009) The fretting fatigue of commercial hard anodized aluminum alloys. J Mater Eng Perform 1282(18(9))Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    Majzoobi GH, Jaleh M (2007) Duplex surface treatment on AL7075-T6 alloy against fretting fatigue behavior by application of titanium coating plus nitriding. Mater Sci Eng, A 452–453:673–681Google Scholar
  4. 4.
    Arzamasow BN, Babich SG, Kirichenko LG, Knyazheva VM, Silaeva VI, Soloveva TV (1994) Properties of aluminum alloys with titanium nitride coating. Met Sci Heat Treat 36(6):308–312. doi:10.1007/BFO1401073 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. 5.
    Efeoglu I, Celik A (2011) Mechanical and structural properties of AISI 8620 steel TiN coated, nitride and TiNcoated + nitride. Mater Charact 46:311–316CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. 6.
    Subramanian B, Jayachandran M (2007) Characterization of reactive magnetron sputtered nanocrystalline titanium nitride (TiN) thin films with brush plated Ni interlayer. J Appl Electrochem 37:1069–1075CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. 7.
    Hsieh JH, Liang C, Yu CH, Wu W (1998) Deposition and characterization of TiAlN and multi-layered TiN/TiAlN coatings using unbalanced magnetron sputtering. Surf Coat Technol 108–109:132–137CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. 8.
    Huang JH, Lau KW, Yu GP (2005) Effect of nitrogen flow rate on structure and properties of nanocrystalline TiN thin films produced by unbalanced magnetron sputtering. Surf Coat Technol 191:17–24CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    Budinski KG (1988) Surface engineering for wear resistance. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New JerseyGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    Mayrhofer PH, Kunc F, Musil J, Mitterer C (2002) A comparative study on reactive and non-reactive unbalanced magnetron sputter deposition of TiN coatings. Thin Solid Films 415:151–159CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    Diesselberg M, Stock HR, Mayr P (2004) Corrosion protection of magnetron sputtered TiNcoatings deposited on high strength aluminium alloys. Surf Coat Technol 177–178:399–403CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. 12.
    Kelly PJ, Arnell RD (2000) Magnetron sputtering: a review of recent developments and applications. Vacuum 56:159–172CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    Tan CW, Miao J (2009) Optimization of sputtered Cr/Au thin film for diaphragm-based MEMS applications. Thin Solid Films 517:4921–4925CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. 14.
    Li JF, Liao H, Normand B, Cordier C, Maurin G, Foct J, Coddet C (2003) Uniform design method for optimization of process parameters of plasma sprayed TiN coatings. Surf Coat Technol 176:1–13CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. 15.
    Logothetidis S, Alexandrou I, Kokkou S (1996) Optimization of TiN thin film growth with in situ monitoring: the effect of bias voltage and nitrogen flow rate. Surf Coat Technol 80:66–71CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. 16.
    Farooq M, Lee ZH (2002) Optimization of the sputtering process for depositing composite thin films. J Korean Phys Soc 40(3):511–515Google Scholar
  17. 17.
    Mayrhofer PH, Mitterer C, Musil J (2003) Structure–property relationship in single- and dual-phase nanocrystalline hard coatings. Surf Coat Technol 174–175:725–731CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. 18.
    Ghani JA, Choudhury IA, Hassan HH (2004) Application of Taguchi method in the optimization of end milling parameters. J Mater Process Technol 145:84–92CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. 19.
    Chunyan Y, Linhai T, Yinghui W, Shebin W, Tianbao L, Bingshe X (2009) The effect of substrate bias voltages on impact resistance of CrAlN coatings deposited by modified ion beam enhanced magnetron sputtering. Surf Sci 255:4033–4038CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. 20.
    Mubarak A, Hamzah E, Toff MRM (2006) Influence of nitrogen gas flow rate on the Microstructural and mechanical properties of TiN deposited carbon steel synthesized by CAE Pvd technique. AJSTD 23(4):239–251Google Scholar
  21. 21.
    Panich N, Wangyao P, Hannongbua S, Sricharoenchai P, Sun Y (2007) Effect of argon-nitrogen mixing gas during magnetron sputtering on titanium interlayer deposition with TiB2 coatings on high speed steel. Rev Adv Mater Sci 16:80–87Google Scholar
  22. 22.
    Gangopadhyay S, Acharya R, Chattopadhyay AK, Paul S (2010) Effect of substrate bias voltage on structural and mechanical properties of pulsed DC magnetron sputtered TiN–MoSx composite coatings. Vacuum 84:843–850CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag London Limited 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  • E. Zalnezhad
    • 1
    • 2
  • Ahmed A. D. Sarhan
    • 1
    • 3
  • M. Hamdi
    • 1
  1. 1.Center of Advanced Manufacturing and Material Processing, Department of Engineering Design and Manufacture, Faculty of EngineeringUniversity of MalayaKuala LumpurMalaysia
  2. 2.Faculty of EngineeringIslamic Azad University, Chalous BranchChalousIran
  3. 3.Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of EngineeringAssiut UniversityAssiutEgypt

Personalised recommendations