Characterisation of a high-power impulse magnetron sputtered C/Mo/W wear resistant coating by transmission electron microscopy

Sharp, J., Müller, I. C., Mandal, P., Abbas, A., Nord, M., Doye, A., Ehiasarian, A., Hovsepian, P., MacLaren, I. and Rainforth, W. M. (2019) Characterisation of a high-power impulse magnetron sputtered C/Mo/W wear resistant coating by transmission electron microscopy. Surface and Coatings Technology, 377, 124853. (doi: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2019.08.007)

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Abstract

Thin films of C/Mo/W deposited using combined UBM/HIPIMS sputtering show 2–8 nm clusters of material richer in Mo and W than the matrix (found by EDS microanalysis), with structures that resemble graphitic onions with the metal atoms arranged regularly within them. EELS microanalysis showed the clusters to be rich in W and Mo. As the time averaged power used in the pulsed HIPIMS magnetron was increased, the clusters became more defined, larger, and arranged into layers with amorphous matrix between them. Films deposited with average HIPIMS powers of 4 kW and 6 kW also showed a periodic modulation of the cluster density within the finer layers giving secondary, wider stripes in TEM. By analysing the ratio between the finer and coarser layers, it was found that this meta-layering is related to the substrate rotation in the deposition chamber but in a non-straightforward way. Reasons for this are proposed. The detailed structure of the clusters remains unknown and is the subject of further work. Fluctuation electron microscopy results indicated the presence of crystal planes with the graphite interlayer spacing, crystal planes in hexagonal WC perpendicular to the basal plane, and some plane spacings found in Mo2C. Other peaks in the FEM results suggested symmetry-related starting points for future determination of the structure of the clusters.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Doye, Mr Alastair and MacLaren, Dr Ian and Nord, Dr Magnus
Authors: Sharp, J., Müller, I. C., Mandal, P., Abbas, A., Nord, M., Doye, A., Ehiasarian, A., Hovsepian, P., MacLaren, I., and Rainforth, W. M.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:Surface and Coatings Technology
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0257-8972
ISSN (Online):1879-3347
Published Online:03 August 2019
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2019 The Authors
First Published:First published in Surface and Coatings Technology 377: 124853
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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