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Mechanical Characterization of CrN/CrAlN Multilayer Coatings Deposited by Magnetron Sputtering System

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Abstract

Chromium-based coatings are deposited on a 100Cr6 (AISI 52100) substrate by a physical vapor deposition magnetron sputtering system. The coatings have different structures, such as a CrN monolayer and CrAlN multilayer. The structural and morphological compositions of the coatings were evaluated using glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy. Nano-indentation tests were performed to investigate the mechanical properties. Domes and craters are shown to be uniformly distributed over the entire surfaces of the two coatings. Additionally, the CrN/CrAlN multilayer coating exhibits a rough surface, attractive mechanical properties, a high compressive stress, and a high plastic and elastic deformation resistance. The improvement of the mechanical properties of the CrN/CrAlN coating is mainly attributed to a reduction in the crystallite size. We found that this reduction was related to three factors: (1) the compositional change resulting from the substitution of aluminum for chromium, which can produce a decrease in the interatomic distance; (2) the structure of CrN/CrAlN, which was characterized by grain size refinement; and (3) the high number of interfaces, which explains the widely accepted concept of dislocation blocking by the layer interfaces.

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Acknowledgments

The Authors acknowledge the Laboratory of Mechanics, Materials and Processes (LMMP) of ENSIT, University of Tunisia, and Balzers Group.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National High School of Engineers of Tunisia, University of Tunis, 5 Taha Hussein Street, 1008, Tunis, Tunisia

    Khlifi Kaouther, Dhiflaoui Hafedh, Zoghlami Lassaad & Ben Cheikh Larbi Ahmed

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  1. Khlifi Kaouther
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  2. Dhiflaoui Hafedh
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  3. Zoghlami Lassaad
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  4. Ben Cheikh Larbi Ahmed
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Correspondence to Dhiflaoui Hafedh.

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Kaouther, K., Hafedh, D., Lassaad, Z. et al. Mechanical Characterization of CrN/CrAlN Multilayer Coatings Deposited by Magnetron Sputtering System. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 24, 4077–4082 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-015-1692-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-015-1692-x

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