Effects of the Ethyne Flow Ratio on Structures and Mechanical Properties of Reactive High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering Deposited Chromium-Carbon Films

Abstract

Chromium-carbon films were deposited by utilizing reactive high-power impulse magnetron sputtering with different mixture ratios of ethyne and argon with a constant deposition total pressure while the deposition temperature, pulse frequency, duty cycle and average power of the chromium cathode remain the same. The microstructure and chemical bonding of the obtained films within different composition were compared. The results show that with the increasing ethyne ratio, the carbon content in films increases linearly with two slopes. Moreover, the microstructure of the deposited film changes from a dense glassy structure into a columnar structure, even a clusters structure. The sp2-C bonding in films decreases but the Cr–C bonding increases with decreasing the ethyne ratio. This reveals the main phase of films changes from a hydrogenated amorphous carbon phase into a glassy amorphous chromium carbide phase. Such changes of the microstructure and phase cause a large difference on the film hardness and elasticity.

Effect of carbon content on resistance to cavitation erosion of Cr-C coatings deposited by Arc PVD method

“…The Cr-C system shows several interesting characteristics. For example, the hardness of the synthesized chromium carbide can vary up to several times depending on the technological deposition parameters and coating composition [7]. Magnetron sputtered Cr-C coating on 304 stainless steel has improved corrosion resistance [8].…”

Effect of heat treatment on microstructure and properties of powder immersion reaction assisted chromium carbide coatings prepared on Q235 steel

“…Stable chromium carbides, such as Cr 3 C 2 , Cr 7 C 3 , and Cr 23 C 6, have received considerable attention for coating applications because of their high hardness, excellent chemical stability, and great corrosion resistance, especially for equivalent thermal expansion coefficient to steel. [1][2][3][4][5] In comparison to the vapor deposition method, [6][7][8][9][10] the spray method 3,4,11 and the laser cladding method, 12,13 diffusion-based methods, such as molten salt bath 1,2 and solid-state pack cementation 5,14 are simpler and easier; however, they are effective to prepare coatings on complex-shaped components. Powder immersion reaction assisted coating (PIRAC) method is an environmentally friendly solid-state pack cementation method, and it is free from the drawbacks of the salt bath immersion method, such as high-temperature salt-induced erosion, inhomogeneous and coarse surface, and so forth.…”