Influence of Ag content on the microstructure, mechanical, and tribological properties of TaVN–Ag films

Article
First Online:
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:

Abstract

A series of TaVN–Ag nanocomposite films were deposited using a radio-frequency magnetron sputtering system. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological performance of the films were investigated. The results showed that TaVN–Ag films were composed of face-centered cubic (fcc) TaVN and fcc-Ag. With increasing Ag content, the hardness of TaVN–Ag composite films first increased and then decreased rapidly. The maximum hardness value was 31.4 GPa. At room temperature, the coefficient of friction (COF) of TaVN–Ag films decreased from 0.76 to 0.60 with increasing Ag content from 0 to 7.93at%. For the TaVN–Ag films with 7.93at% Ag, COF first increased and then decreased rapidly from 0.60 at 25°C to 0.35 at 600°C, whereas the wear rate of the film increased continuously from 3.91 × 10−7 to 19.1 × 10−7 mm3/(N·mm). The COF of the TaVN–Ag film with 7.93at% Ag was lower than that of the TaVN film, and their wear rates showed opposite trends with increasing temperature.

Keywords

TaVN–Ag films RF magnetron sputtering microstructure mechanical properties tribological performances 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Notes

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51374115 and 51574131), Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (KYCX17-1832), and Research Fund of Jiangsu University of Science and Technology (YCX16S-22).

References

  1. [1]
    C.C. Liu, M.H. Weng, C.T. Wang, J.H. Chen, Y.C. Chou, and H.W. Yaw, An investigation of structure and wear properties of TiN/NbN films deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering, Key Eng. Mater., 368-372(2008), p. 1310.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. [2]
    M. Akbazadeh, A. Shafyei, and H.R. Salimijazi, Comparison of the CrN, TiN and (Ti, Cr)N PVD coatings deposited by cathodic arc evaporation, Iran. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 12(2015), No. 1, p. 43.Google Scholar
  3. [3]
    Z.W. Wu, F. Zhou, Q.W. Wang, Z.F. Zhou, J.W. Yan, and L.K.Y. Li, Influence of trimethylsilane flow on the microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties of CrSiCN coatings in water lubrication, Appl. Surf. Sci., 355(2015), p. 516.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. [4]
    L.H. Yu, Y. Li, H.B. Ju, and J.H. Xu, Microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties of magnetron sputtered VCN films, Surf. Eng., 33(2017), No. 12, p. 919.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. [5]
    H.B. Ju, L.H. Yu, S. He, I. Asemoah, J.H. Xu, and Y. Hou, The enhancement of fracture toughness and tribological properties of the titanium nitride films by doping yttrium, Surf. Coat. Technol., 321(2017), p. 57.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. [6]
    J.H. Xu, H.B. Ju, and L.H. Yu, Microstructure, oxidation resistance, mechanical and tribological properties of Mo–Al–N films by reactive magnetron sputtering, Vacuum, 103(2014), p. 21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. [7]
    L. Hultman, Thermal stability of nitride thin films, Vacuum, 57(2000), No. 1, p. 1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. [8]
    L.W. Lin, B. Liu, D. Ren, C.Y. Zhan, G.H. Jiao, and K.W. Xu, Effect of sputtering bias voltage on the structure and properties of Zr–Ge–N diffusion barrier films, Surf. Coat. Technol., 228(2013), Suppl. 1, p. S237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. [9]
    S. Komiyama, Y. Sutou, K. Oikawa, J. Koike, M. Wang, and M. Sakurai, Wear and oxidation behavior of reactive sputtered d-(Ti,Mo)N films deposited at different nitrogen gas flow rates, Tribol. Int., 87(2015), p. 32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. [10]
    T.S. Kumar, S.B. Prabu, G. Manivasagam, and K.A. Padmanabhan, Comparison of TiAlN, AlCrN, and AlCrN/TiAlN coatings for cutting-tool applications, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 21(2014), No. 8, p. 796.Google Scholar
  11. [11]
    H.B. Ju, L.H. Yu, D. Yu, I. Asempah, and J.H. Xu, Microstructure, mechanical and trobological properties of TiN–Ag films deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering, Vacuum, 141(2017), p. 82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. [12]
    H.B. Ju and J.H. Xu, Microstructure and tribological properties of NbN–Ag composite films by reactive magnetron sputtering, Appl. Surf. Sci., 355(2015), p. 878.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. [13]
    C.P. Mulligan and D. Gall, CrN–Ag self-lubricating hard coatings, Surf. Coat. Technol., 200(2005), No. 5-6, p. 1495.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. [14]
    C.P. Mulligan, T.A. Blanchet, and D. Gall, CrN–Ag nanocomposite coatings: High-temperature tribological response, Wear, 269(2010), No. 1-2, p. 125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. [15]
    C.P. Mulligan, T.A. Blanchet, and D. Gall, CrN–Ag nanocomposite coatings: Tribology at room temperature and during a temperature ramp, Surf. Coat. Technol., 204(2010), No. 9, p. 1388.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. [16]
    S.M. Aouadi, D.P. Singh, D.S. Stone, K. Polychronopoulou, F. Nahif, C. Rebholz, C. Muratore, and A.A. Voevodin, Adaptive VN/Ag nanocomposite coatings with lubricious behavior from 25 to 1000°C, Acta Mater., 58(2010), No. 16, p. 5326.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. [17]
    D.V. Shtansky, A.V. Bondarev, Ph.V. Kiryukhantsev-Korneev, T.C. Rojas, V. Godinho, and A. Fernández, Structure and tribological properties of MoCN–Ag coatings in the temperature range of 25–700°C, Appl. Surf. Sci., 273(2013), p. 408.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. [18]
    T. Laurila, K. Zeng, J.K. Kivilahti, J. Molarius, T. Riekkinen, and I. Suni, Tantalum carbide and nitride diffusion barriers for Cu metallisation, Microelectron. Eng., 60(2002), No. 1-2, p. 71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. [19]
    A. Kaushal and D. Kaur, Effect of Mg content on structural, electrical and optical properties of Zn1-xMgxO nanocomposite thin films, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells, 93(2009), No. 2, p. 193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. [20]
    H.L. Zhang, J.F. Li, B.P. Zhang, and W. Jiang, Enhanced mechanical properties in Ag-particle-dispersed PZT piezoelectric composites for actuator applications, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 498(2008), No. 1-2, p. 272.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. [21]
    H. Köstenbauer, G.A. Fontalvo, C. Mitterer, and J. Keckes, Tribological properties of TiN/Ag nanocomposite coatings, Tribol. Lett., 30(2008), No. 1, p. 53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. [22]
    S.Y. Tan, X.H. Zhang, X.J. Wu, F. Fang, and J.Q. Jiang, Effect of copper content and substrate bias on structure and mechanical properties of reactive sputtered CrCuN films, J. Alloys Compd., 509(2011), No. 3, p. 789.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. [23]
    S.M. Aouadi, P. Basnyat, Y. Zhang, Q. Ge, and P. Filip, Grain boundary sliding mechanisms in ZrN–Ag, ZrN–Au, and ZrN–Pd nanocomposite films, Appl. Phys. Lett., 88(2006), No. 2, p. 741.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. [24]
    K.E. Pappacena, D. Singh, O.O. Ajayi, J.L. Routbort, O.L. Erilymaz, N.G. Demas, and G. Chen, Residual stresses, interfacial adhesion and tribological properties of MoN/Cu composite coatings, Wear, 278-279(2012), p. 62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. [25]
    N. Fateh, G.A. Fontalvo, G.A. Gassner, and C. Mitterer, Influence of high-temperature oxide formation on the tribological behaviour of TiN and VN coatings, Wear, 262(2007), No. 9-10, p. 1152.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. [26]
    Q. Luo, Temperature dependent friction and wear of magnetron sputtered coating TiAlN/VN, Wear, 271(2011), No. 9-10, p. 2058.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© University of Science and Technology Beijing and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.School of Material Science and EngineeringJiangsu University of Science and TechnologyZhenjiangChina

Personalised recommendations