The roles of metallic droplets, which generated from the cathodic arc spot holes in the technology of Cathodic Arc Plasma Deposition (CAPD), are investigated by SEM, TEM, image analysis apparatus, and electronic probe energy spectrum analysis. The results show that though many papers in recent years are devoted to eliminate them, the metallic droplets, including the macrodroplets, have many important positive roles in the preparation of alloy films: they are the main factor to transfer the original composition of alloy cathodic target to the alloy thick films; they preserve the high deposition rate of CAPD to form the basic characteristics of the microstructure and to affect the pore ratios of the films; they also preserve the high melting point elements in the alloy films, and therefore preserve the corrosion resistance of the alloy in the films. The macrodroplets can be eliminated by raising the substrate temperature properly, which is permitted in some cases, such as depositing alloy films onto middle carbon steel as an anticorrosion system, etc.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.