Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The Effect of Bilayer Periods and Their Thickness in Magnetron Sputtering Protective Multilayer Coatings for Tribological Applications

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

CrN/CrAlN thin films were deposited by DC reactive magnetron sputtering. The influence of CrN/CrAlN bilayer thickness on the microstructure, mechanical, and tribological properties was studied. Crystallinity of the layers was characterized by x-ray diffraction. The microstructure of all coatings was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Results exhibit that bilayer thickness was a dominant factor. The analyses showed a columnar microstructure for the CrN/CrAlN coatings. Owing to their denser structure and interfacial strengthening, CrN/CrAlN multilayer coatings exhibited higher mechanical properties than that of monolayers. Indeed, CrN/CrAlN multilayer coating with four bilayers and thickness gradient reaches a maximum of hardness around 43 GPa. Also, its resistance to spallation reaches 97 N which is a very excellent value. After ball-on-disk wear tests, it is found that all multilayer films exhibited a good wear resistance, especially the one with four bilayers and different CrN and CrAlN monolayers thickness. The lowest coefficient of friction is obtained for the coatings with 4 bilayers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. L. Aihua, D. Jianxin, C. Haibing, C. Yangyang and Z. Jun, Friction and Wear Properties of TiN, TiAlN, AlTiN and CrAlN PVD Nitride Coatings, Int. J. Refract. Met. H., 2012, 31, p 82–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. H. Elmkhah, T. Zhang, A. Abdollah-zadeh, K. Kim and F. Mahboubi, Surface Characteristics for the Ti-Al-N Coatings Deposited by High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering Technique at the Different Bias Voltages, J. Alloys Compd., 2016, 688, p 820–827.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. H. Du, J. Xiong, H. Zhao, Y. Wu, W. Wan and L. Wang, Structure and Properties of TiAlLaN Films Deposited at Various Bias Voltages, Appl. Surf. Sci., 2014, 292, p 688–694.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. T. Polcar, N.M.G. Parreira and R. Novák, Friction and Wear Behaviour of CrN Coating at Temperatures up to 500 °C, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2007, 201, p 5228–5235.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. K. Aouadi, B. Tlili, C. Nouveau, A. Besnard, M. Chafra and R. Souli, Influence of Substrate Bias Voltage on Corrosion and Wear Behavior of Physical Vapor Deposition CrN Coatings, J Mater. Eng. Perform., 2019, 28, p 2881–2891.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Y.C. Chim, X.Z. Ding, X.T. Zeng and S. Zhang, Oxidation Resistance of TiN, CrN, TiAlN and CrAlN Coatings Deposited by Lateral Rotating Cathode Arc, Thin Solid Films, 2009, 517, p 4845–4849.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. H.C. Barshilia, N. Selvakumar, B. Deepthi and K.S. Rajam, A Comparative Study of Reactive Direct Current Magnetron Sputtered CrAlN and CrN Coatings, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2006, 201, p 2193–2201.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. E. Spain, J. Avelar-Batista, M. Letch, J. Housden and B. Lerga, Characterisation and Applications of Cr-Al-N Coatings, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2005, 200, p 1507–1513.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. X. Xu, F. Su and Z. Li, Tribological Properties of Nanostructured TiAlN/W2N Multilayer Coating Produced by PVD, Wear, 2019, 430–431, p 67–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. S. Huang, C. Tong, T. Hsieh and J. Lee, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties Evaluation of Cathodic arc Deposited CrCN/ZrCN Multilayer Coatings, J. Alloys Compd., 2019, 803, p 1005–1015.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. H.C. Barshilia, A. Jain and K.S. Rajam, Structure, Hardness and Thermal Stability of Nanolayered TiN/CrN Multilayer Coatings, Vacuum, 2004, 72, p 241–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. M. Nordin, M. Larsson and S. Hogmark, Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Multilayered PVD TiN/CrN, TiN/MoN, TiN/NbN and TiN/TaN Coatings on Cemented Carbide, Surf. Coat. Technol., 1998, 106, p 234–241.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. P. Wiecinski, J. Smolik, H. Garbacz, J. Bonarski, A. Mazurkiewicz and K.J. Kurzyd, Microstructure and Properties of Metal/Ceramic and Ceramic/Ceramic Multilayer Coatings on Titanium Alloy Ti6Al4V, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2017, 309, p 709–718.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. P. Wiecinski, J. Smolik, H. Garbacz and K.J. Kurzydlowski, Erosion Resistance of the Nanostructured Cr/CrN Multilayer Coatings on Ti6Al4V Alloy, Vacuum, 2014, 107, p 277–283.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. M. Yousaf, V. Pelenovich, B. Yang, C.S. Liu and D.J. Fu, Effect of Bilayer Period on Structural and Mechanical Properties of Nanocomposite TiAlN/MoN Multilayer Films Synthesized by Cathodic Arc Ion-Plating, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2015, 282, p 94–102.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Y. Ou, J. Lin, H. Che, W. Sproul, J. Moore and M. Lei, Mechanical and Tribological Properties of CrN/TiN Multilayer Coatings Deposited by Pulsed DC Magnetron Sputtering, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2015, 276, p 152–159.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. E. Contreras, Y. Galindez, M.A. Rodas, G. Bejarano and M.A. Gómez, CrVN/TiN Nanoscale Multilayer Coatings Deposited by DC Unbalanced Magnetron Sputtering, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2017, 332, p 214–222.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. L. Chen and Y.X. Xu, Influence of Interfacial Structure on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of CrAlN/ZrN Multilayer Coatings, Mater. Des., 2016, 106, p 1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. M. Nose, T. Kawabata, T. Watanuki, S. Ueda, K. Fujii, K. Matsuda and S. Ikeno, Mechanical Properties and Oxidation Resistance of CrAlN/BN Nanocomposite Coatings Prepared by Reactive DC and RF Cosputtering, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2011, 205, p 33–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Y. Wang, J. Lee and J. Duh, Mechanical Strengthening in Self-lubricating CrAlN/VN Multilayer Coatings for Improved High-temperature Tribological Characteristics, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2016, 303, p 12–17.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. C. Lin, Y. Tsai and J. Duh, Effect of Grain Size on Mechanical Properties in CrAlN/SiNx Multilayer Coatings, Thin Solid Films, 2010, 518, p 7312–7315.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. O. Maksakova, R. Webster, R. Tilley, V. Ivashchenko, B. Postolnyi, O. Bondar, Y. Takeda, V. Rogoz, R. Sakenova, P. Zukowski, M. Opielak, V. Beresnev and A. Pogrebnjak, Nanoscale Architecture of (CrN/ZrN)/(Cr/Zr)Nanocomposite Coatings: Microstructure, Composition, Mechanical Properties and First-Principles Calculations, J. Alloys Compd., 2020, 831, p 154808.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. B. Postolnyi, V. Beresnev, G. Abadias, O. Bondar, L. Rebouta, J. Araujo and A. Pogrebnjak, Multilayer Design of CrN/MoN Protective Coatings for Enhanced Hardness and Toughness, J. Alloys Compd., 2017, 725, p 1188–1198.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. A. Pogrebnjak, V. Beresnev, O. Bondar, B. Postolnyi, K. Zaleski, E. Coy, S. Jurga, M. Lisovenko, P. Konarski, L. Rebouta and J. Araujo, Superhard CrN/MoN Coatings with Multilayer Architecture, Mater. Des., 2018, 153, p 47–59.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. K. Rahmoun, A. Iost, V. Keryvin, G. Guillemot and N. Sari, A Multilayer Model for Describing Hardness Variations of Aged Porous Silicon Low-Dielectric-Constant Thin Films, Thin Solid Films, 2009, 518, p 213–221.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. G. Li, J. Sun, Y. Xu, Y. Xu, J. Gu, L. Wang, K. Huang, K. Liu and L. Li, Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, and Cutting Performance of TiAlSiN Multilayer Coatings Prepared by HiPIMS, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2018, 353, p 274–281.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. W. Dai, Q. Wang, K. Kim and S. Kwon, Al2O3/CrAlSiN Multilayer Coating Deposited Using Hybrid Magnetron Sputtering and Atomic Layer Deposition, Ceram. Int., 2019, 9, p 11335–11341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Y. Ye, Y. Yao, H. Chen, S. Guo, J. Li and L. Wang, Structure, Mechanical and Tribological Properties in Seawater of Multilayer TiSiN/Ni Coatings Prepared by Cathodic Arc Method, Appl. Surf. Sci., 2019, 493, p 1177–1186.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. G. Li, L. Zhang, F. Cai, Y. Yang, Q. Wang and S. Zhang, Characterization and Corrosion Behaviors of TiN/TiAlN Multilayer Coatings by Ion Source Enhanced Hybrid Arc Ion Plating, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2019, 366, p 355–365.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Y. Kim, T. Byun and J. Han, Superlattices and Microstructures Bilayer Period Dependence of CrN/CrAlN Nanoscale Multilayer Thin Films, Superlattices Microstruct., 2009, 45, p 73–79.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. B. Bouaouina, A. Besnard, S.E. Abaidia and F. Haid, Residual Stress, Mechanical and Microstructure Properties of Multilayer Mo2N/CrN Coating Produced by R.F Magnetron Discharge, Appl. Surf. Sci., 2017, 395, p 117–121.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. L. Ipaz, J. Caicedo, J. Esteve, F. Espinoza-beltran and G. Zambrano, Improvement of Mechanical and Tribological Properties in Steel Surfaces by Using Titanium- Aluminum/Titanium-Aluminum Nitride Multilayered System, Appl. Surf. Sci., 2012, 258, p 3805–3814.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. C. Dang, J. Li, Y. Wang and J. Chen, Structure, Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Self-toughening TiSiN/Ag Multilayer Coatings on Ti6Al4V Prepared by Arc Ion Plating, Appl. Surf. Sci., 2016, 386, p 224–233.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. J. Stallard, S. Poulat and D. Teer, The Study of the Adhesion of a TiN Coating on Steel and Titanium Alloy Substrates Using a Multi-mode Scratch Tester, Tribol. Int., 2006, 39, p 159–166.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. J. Caicedo, C. Amaya, L. Yate, O. Nos, M.E. Gomez and P. Prieto, Hard Coating Performance Enhancement by Using [Ti/TiN]n, [Zr/ZrN]n and [TiN/ZrN]n Multilayer System, Mater. Sci. Eng. B, 2010, 171, p 56–61.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. X. Guan, Y. Wang, G. Zhang, X. Jiang, L. Wang and Q. Xue, Microstructures and Properties of Zr/CrN Multilayer Coatings Fabricated by Multi-Arc Ion Plating, Tribol. Int., 2017, 106, p 78–87.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. C. Tian, B. Yang, S. Yan, Z. Lu, Z. Huang and D. Fu, Influence of Substrate Rotation Speed on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of AlTiN/CrN Coatings, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2013, 228, p 228–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. C. Tavares, C. Vidrago, L. Rebouta, J.P. Rivie, E. Le Bourhis and M.F. Denanot, Optimization and Thermal Stability of TiAlN/Mo Multilayers, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2005, 200, p 288–292.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. S. Bull and A. Jones, Multilayer Coatings for Improved Performance, Surf. Coat. Technol., 1996, 78, p 173–184.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Y. Wang and S. Zhang, Toward Hard Yet Tough Ceramic Coatings, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2014, 258, p 1–16.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. P. Yashar and W. Sproul, Nanometer Scale Multilayered Hard Coatings, Vacuum, 1999, 55, p 179–190.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. S. Zhou, V. Pelenovich, B. Han, M. Yousaf, S. Yan, C. Tian and D. Fu, Effects of Modulation Period on Microstructure, Mechanical Properties of TiBN/TiN Nanomultilayered Films Deposited by Multi Arc Ion Plating, Vacuum, 2016, 126, p 34–40.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. S. Barnett and M. Shinn, Plastic and Elastic Properties of Compositionally Modulated Thin Films, Annu. Rev. Mater. Sci., 1994, 24, p 481–511.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. S. Barnett and A. Madan, Superhard Superlattices, Phys. World, 1998, 11, p 45–48.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. J. Yu, L. Dong, C. Li, Y. Pan, R. Wan, H. Gu and D. Li, The Influence of Modulation Periods on the Evolution of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Nanoscale HfN/HfB2 Multilayers, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2017, 326, p 368–374.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. S. Tien and J. Duh, Effect of Heat Treatment on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of CrN/AlN Multilayer Coatings, Thin Solid Films, 2006, 494, p 173–178.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. J. Caicedo, G. Bejarano, M. Gomez, P. Prieto and C. Cortéz, Nanostructured Multilayers of TiN/ZrN Obtained by Magnetron Sputtering, Phys. Stat. Sol., 2007, 11, p 4127–4133.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Q. Zhang, Y. Xu, T. Zhang, Z. Wu and Q. Wang, Tribological Properties, Oxidation Resistance and Turning Performance of AlTiN/AlCrSiN Multilayer Coatings by Arc Ion Plating, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2018, 356, p 1–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. S. Zhou, S. Yan, B. Han, B. Yang, B. Lin, Z. Zhang, Z. Ai, V. Pelenovich and D. Fu, Influence of Modulation Period and Modulation Ratio on Structure and Mechanical Properties of TiBN/CrN Coatings Deposited by Multi-Arc Ion Plating, Appl. Surf. Sci., 2015, 351, p 1116–1121.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. A. Leyland and A. Matthews, On the Significance of the H/E Ratio in Wear Control: a Nanocomposite Coating Approach to Optimised Tribological Behaviour, Wear, 2000, 246, p 1–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Y. Zhou, R. Asaki, W. Soe, R. Yamamoto, R. Chen and A. Iwabuchi, Hardness Anomaly, Plastic Deformation Work and Fretting Wear Properties of Polycrystalline TiN/CrN Multilayers, Wear, 1999, 236, p 159–164.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. J. Xu, H. Ju and L. Yu, Microstructure, Oxidation Resistance, Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Mo-Al-N Films by Reactive Magnetron Sputtering, Vacuum, 2014, 103, p 21–27.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. C. Liu, F. Su and J. Liang, Nanocrystalline Co-Ni Alloy Coating Produced with Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Assisted Electrodeposition with Excellent Wear and Corrosion Resistance, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2016, 292, p 37–43.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. S. Huang, S. Chen, Y. Kuo, C. Wang, J. Lee, Y. Chan, H. Chen, J. Duh and T. Hsieh, Mechanical and Tribological Properties Evaluation of Cathodic Arc Deposited CrN/ZrN Multilayer Coatings, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2011, 206, p 1744–1752.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. T. Banerjee and A.K. Chattopadhyay, Structural, Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Pulsed DC Magnetron Sputtered TiN-WSx/TiN Bilayer Coating, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2015, 282, p 24–35.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. N. Beliardouh, K. Bouzid, C. Nouveau, B. Tlili and M.J. Walock, Tribological and Electrochemical Performances of Cr/CrN and Cr/CrN/CrAlN Multilayer Coatings Deposited by RF Magnetron Sputtering, Tribol. Int., 2015, 82, p 443–452.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Y. Kong, X. Tian, C. Gong and P. Chu, Enhancement of Toughness and Wear Resistance by CrN/CrCN Multilayered Coatings for Wood Processing, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2018, 344, p 204–213.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. D. Kumar, N. Kumar, S. Kalaiselvam, S. Dash and R. Jayavel, Wear Resistant Super- Hard Multilayer Transition Metal-Nitride Coatings, Surfaces and Interfaces, 2017, 7, p 74–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. S. Zhang, D. Sun, Y. Fu and H. Du, Toughening of Hard Nanostructural Thin Films: a Critical Review, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2005, 198, p 2–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. M. Nordin, M. Larsson and S. Hogmark, Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Multilayered PVD TiN/CrN, Wear, 1999, 232, p 221–225.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Z. Zhang, O. Rapaud, N. Allain, D. Mercs, M. Baraket, C. Dong and C. Coddet, Microstructures and Tribological Properties of CrN/ZrN Nanoscale Multilayer Coatings, Appl. Surf. Sci., 2009, 255, p 4020–4026.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Regional Council of Burgundy for its financial support. The authors also, would like to thank M. Denis LAGADRILLERE for the SEM observations and EDS microanalyses, Dr. Philippe JACQUET for the XRD analyses. We also think Pr. Alain IOST and Dr. Alberto MEJIAS for their help in nanoindentation and scratch test measurements.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Applied Mechanics and Systems Research Laboratory (LR03ES06), Tunisia Polytechnic School, University of Carthage, Rue El Khawarizmi, BP 743, 2078, La Marsa, Tunisia

    Khalil Aouadi & Moez Chafra

  2. Arts et Metiers Institute of Technology, LaBoMaP, Rue Porte de Paris, 71250, Cluny, France

    Corinne Nouveau & Aurélien Besnard

  3. Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Tunis, Laboratoire de Mécanique Appliquée et Ingénierie (LR-MAI), Université de Tunis El-Manar, Rue Béchir Salem Belkhiria, 1002, Tunis, Tunisia

    Brahim Tlili

  4. Arts et Metiers Institute of Technology, MSMP, 8, Rue Boulevard Louis XIV, 59046, Lille Cedex, France

    Alex Montagne

Authors
  1. Khalil Aouadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Corinne Nouveau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Aurélien Besnard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Brahim Tlili
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Alex Montagne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Moez Chafra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Khalil Aouadi.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Aouadi, K., Nouveau, C., Besnard, A. et al. The Effect of Bilayer Periods and Their Thickness in Magnetron Sputtering Protective Multilayer Coatings for Tribological Applications. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 30, 2526–2535 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-021-05587-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-021-05587-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation