Coatings Deposited by Cathodic Arc and Magnetron Sputtering Process

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2023) | Viewed by 13659

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Koszalin University of Technology, Śniadeckich 2, 75-453 Koszalin, Poland
Interests: surface engineering; vacuum technologies; tool materials; tribology; coating adhesion
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Modern PVD techniques can obtain coatings with the required structure and properties. In these methods, the material from which the coatings are formed is most often thermally evaporated or sputtered by ion bombardment. Cathodic arc (CA) and magnetron sputtering (MS) are the most commonly used PVD coating deposition techniques. The CA technique has high plasma ionization and high ion energy up to 100 eV, which allows for high deposition rates, and the large distance between the source and the substrate enables the coating of large dimensionally large elements. Coatings obtained by the CA method are characterized by high hardness, good adhesion to the substrate, high density, and homogeneity. The disadvantage of the method is the high roughness of the coating resulting from the large number of macroparticles on its surface, which is limited by appropriate cathode constructions, plasma filtering, and cathode spot movement control. The MS technique is widely used in both laboratory and industrial conditions, especially in the pulse mode has many advantages, e.g., process stability and precise process control. Recently, in many publications, such as practical applications, coatings have been deposited by high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS).

Both of these techniques allow the polarization and ion cleaning of substrates. It is also possible to use a larger number of targets from various materials, or multi-components, which, in combination with the possibility of depositing in the atmosphere a mixture of inert and reactive gases, can obtain coatings of different structures and chemical and phase compositions.

This Special Issue will serve as a forum for papers on arc evaporation and magnetron sputtering technique, in the following concepts:

  • Explanation and modeling of plasma physics in CA and MS methods;
  • New solutions and constructions of devices with magnetron and arc sources, including microdroplet filtering techniques;
  • Comparison of techniques using pulse arcs with the HiPIMS method;
  • Methods and techniques for testing the chemical and phase composition, structure and properties of coatings produced by CA or MS;
  • New, innovative applications of coatings deposited by CA or MS techniques in various fields, e.g., tribology, machining tools, biomaterials, and space technology.

We look forward to receiving your contribution.

Dr. Mieczysław Pancielejko
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • physical vapor deposition PVD
  • cathodic arc
  • pulsed arcs
  • macroparticle filtering
  • magnetron sputtering
  • high power impulse magnetron sputtering HiPIMS
  • surface engineering
  • coating properties
  • coating applications

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 5875 KiB  
Article
Investigations of TiO2/NanoTiO2 Bimodal Coatings Obtained by a Hybrid PVD/ALD Method on Al-Si-Cu Alloy Substrate
by Marcin Staszuk, Łukasz Reimann, Daniel Pakuła, Mirosława Pawlyta, Małgorzata Musztyfaga-Staszuk, Paweł Czaja and Petr Beneš
Coatings 2022, 12(3), 338; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12030338 - 4 Mar 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1786
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the influence of bimodal TiO2/nanoTiO2 coatings obtained in the PVD/ALD hybrid process on an Al-Si-Cu-type aluminium alloy on the physicochemical properties of the investigated materials. The reference materials were uncoated substrates and samples coated with [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate the influence of bimodal TiO2/nanoTiO2 coatings obtained in the PVD/ALD hybrid process on an Al-Si-Cu-type aluminium alloy on the physicochemical properties of the investigated materials. The reference materials were uncoated substrates and samples coated with TiO2 coatings in single PVD and ALD processes. Tests were carried out on the morphology of coatings using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to determine the structure of the tested coatings and their influence on physicochemical properties. The tests of physicochemical properties were carried out using the potentiodynamic and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy methods. The analysis of corrosion products obtained during the study of physicochemical properties was performed using SEM and EDS analysis. Based on the analysis of anode polarisation curves of the tested materials and Tafel analysis, it was found that a sample demonstrated the highest corrosion resistance with a bimodal coating-type TiO2/nanoTiO2, which had the lowest value of corrosion current and the highest value of polarisation resistance. The slightest corrosion resistance was characteristic for uncovered samples. Moreover, the influence of the tested coatings on the improvement of tribological contact of the surfaces of the coated materials with the counter-specimen made of cemented carbides was demonstrated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coatings Deposited by Cathodic Arc and Magnetron Sputtering Process)
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10 pages, 3604 KiB  
Article
Wear Resistance of (Ti,Al)N Metallic Coatings for Extremal Working Conditions
by Jarosław Mikuła, Daniel Pakuła, Ludwina Żukowska, Klaudiusz Gołombek and Antonín Kříž
Coatings 2021, 11(2), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11020157 - 29 Jan 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1965
Abstract
The article includes research results for the functional properties achieved for a wide range of sintered tool materials, including sintered carbides, cermets and three types of Al2O3 oxide tool ceramics ((Al2O3 + ZrO2, Al2 [...] Read more.
The article includes research results for the functional properties achieved for a wide range of sintered tool materials, including sintered carbides, cermets and three types of Al2O3 oxide tool ceramics ((Al2O3 + ZrO2, Al2O3 + TiC and Al2O3 + SiC(w)) with (Ti,Al)N coating deposited in the cathodic arc evaporation (CAE-PVD) method and comparison with uncoated tool materials. For all coated samples, a uniform wear pattern on tool shank was observed during metallographic analysis. Based on the scanning electron microscope (SEM) metallographic analysis, it was found that the most common types of tribological defects identified in tested materials are: mechanical defects and abrasive wear of the tool side, crater formation on the tool face, cracks on the tool side, chipping on the cutting edge and built-up edge from chip fragments. Deposition of (Ti,Al)N coating on all tested substrates increases the wear resistance and also limits the exceeding of critical levels of permanent stresses. It even increases the tool life many times over. Such a significant increase in tool life results, among other things, from a large increase in microhardness of PVD coated materials compared to uncoated samples, increased resistance to thermal and chemical abrasion, improved chip formation and removal process conditions. Use of hard coatings applied to sintered tool materials is considered to be one of the most important achievements in improving the functional properties of cutting tools and can still be developed by improving the coating structure solutions (sorted and nanocrystalline structures) and extending the range of coating applications (Ti,Al)N in a variety of substrates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coatings Deposited by Cathodic Arc and Magnetron Sputtering Process)
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19 pages, 8764 KiB  
Article
Inter-Relationship between Coating Micro/Nanostructure and the Tribological Performance of Zr–C Gradient Coatings
by Jerzy Ratajski, Adam Gilewicz, Katarzyna Mydłowska and Łukasz Szparaga
Coatings 2020, 10(11), 1121; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings10111121 - 20 Nov 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1727
Abstract
The research presented in this article concerns Zr–C gradient coatings that were deposited on HS6-5-2 steel by reactive magnetron sputtering from the Zr target in appropriately programmed C2H2 mass flow rate, resulting in various profiles of atomic carbon concentrations in [...] Read more.
The research presented in this article concerns Zr–C gradient coatings that were deposited on HS6-5-2 steel by reactive magnetron sputtering from the Zr target in appropriately programmed C2H2 mass flow rate, resulting in various profiles of atomic carbon concentrations in the coating and consequently in spatial change of the properties (H, E, …) and behavior (H/E, H3/E2, We). In particular, the characteristic changes in hardness and Young’s modulus in the Zr–C coatings represented approximately by the bell curve, which has a maximum at the content of about 50 at.% C, were an inspiration to study the behavior of gradient coatings with carbon content in the range of 0–50 and 50–85 at.% with the same hardness change profile. The obtained results indicate that, firstly, the gradient of spatial changes in the coating composition increases their resistance to cohesive damage in comparison to non-gradient coatings, and, secondly, the results show that high hardness is a desired property but not sufficient to ensure adequate coating performance. Independently, an appropriate nano/microstructural structure is necessary, which determines their tribological behavior. In particular, in the case of the tested Zr–C coatings, the obtained results indicate that gradient coatings with a carbon content in the range of 50–85 at.% have better properties, characterized by the critical force Lc2, wear, coefficient of friction, H/E and H3/E2 ratios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coatings Deposited by Cathodic Arc and Magnetron Sputtering Process)
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13 pages, 7786 KiB  
Article
Structure and Tribological Properties of AlCrN + CrCN Coating
by Krzysztof Lukaszkowicz, Jozef Sondor, Agnieszka Paradecka, Mirosława Pawlyta, Bartosz Chmiela, Mieczysław Pancielejko, Bożena Szczucka-Lasota, Tomasz Węgrzyn and Tomasz Tański
Coatings 2020, 10(11), 1084; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings10111084 - 11 Nov 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2247
Abstract
The paper presents results of the investigation of the AlCrN and AlCrN + CrCN coatings, deposited by arc evaporation method on the austenitic steel substrate. Topography studies performed with the use of AFM showed that the roughness value was 24 nm for AlCrN [...] Read more.
The paper presents results of the investigation of the AlCrN and AlCrN + CrCN coatings, deposited by arc evaporation method on the austenitic steel substrate. Topography studies performed with the use of AFM showed that the roughness value was 24 nm for AlCrN and 14 nm for CrCN. Chemical analysis carried out with energy dispersive X-rays spectroscopy confirmed the chemical composition of the coatings. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations showed a column structure of AlCrN and CrCN layers with a width in the range of 10–200 nm. Tribological properties analyzed using a scratch test and ball-on-disc method showed a good adhesion of the coatings to the substrate (LC2 is 40 and 46 N for AlCrN and AlCrN + CrCN, respectively) and its high wear resistance; the use of an additional CrCN layers caused a decrease in the friction coefficient by 19%. Structure modification of the AlCrN + CrCN coating system and the related improvement in its mechanical and tribological properties allowed increasing the lifetime of the coated elements. The original approach was to produce a dual-layer coating, consisting of an internal, hard AlCrN layer and an external layer of CrCN, providing good tribological properties, as well as an appropriate forming of the transition zone between the layers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coatings Deposited by Cathodic Arc and Magnetron Sputtering Process)
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21 pages, 6560 KiB  
Article
Structure and Properties of AlCrN Coatings Deposited Using Cathodic Arc Evaporation
by Bogdan Warcholinski, Adam Gilewicz, Piotr Myslinski, Ewa Dobruchowska and Dawid Murzynski
Coatings 2020, 10(8), 793; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings10080793 - 15 Aug 2020
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 4125
Abstract
Al–Cr–N coatings were formed at various nitrogen pressures, substrate bias voltages and substrate temperatures using cathodic arc evaporation. The relationship between technological parameters and properties of the coatings was investigated. The phase and chemical composition of the coatings, roughness, hardness, adhesion and thermal [...] Read more.
Al–Cr–N coatings were formed at various nitrogen pressures, substrate bias voltages and substrate temperatures using cathodic arc evaporation. The relationship between technological parameters and properties of the coatings was investigated. The phase and chemical composition of the coatings, roughness, hardness, adhesion and thermal stability were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), micro-indenter, Rockwell, scratch tester and thermomechanical methods. The corrosion resistance of selected coatings was also investigated. XRD analysis indicates that the coatings crystallize in a cubic structure and show preferential orientation (200) CrN. With the increase of nitrogen pressure, the preferential orientation changes to (111). EDX analysis shows that as nitrogen pressure increases, the Al/(Al + Cr) rate decreases. Microscopic observations indicate that the number of macroparticles reduces as nitrogen pressure increases. As a result, the surface roughness parameter Ra of the coatings decreases. The effects of deposition temperature, nitrogen pressure and substrate bias voltage on the mechanical and tribological properties of the coatings were investigated. It was found that the above parameters influence the mechanical properties in different ways. The hardness and adhesion of coatings formed at higher temperatures was lower. Coatings formed under a higher nitrogen pressure or substrate bias voltage were characterized by higher hardness and better wear resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coatings Deposited by Cathodic Arc and Magnetron Sputtering Process)
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