Magnetron Sputtering of Au-Based Alloys on NiTi Elements: Surface Investigation for New Products in SMA-Based Fashion and Luxury Accessories and Watchmaking
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Deposition Process
2.2. Morphological and Microstructural Analysis and Characterization of Functional Properties
2.3. Mechanical Properties of the Coatings
2.4. Tribocorrosion Characterization
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Morphological, Compositional, and Microstructural Characterization
3.2. Characterization of the Functional Properties
3.3. Mechanical Properties of the Coatings
3.4. Wear Tests
3.5. Tribocorrosion Characterization
4. Conclusions
- The deposited films trace and reproduce the substrate surface topology, exhibiting a rough morphology. The obtained colorations, from light yellow to reddish, were in accordance with the indication given by the standards. Moreover, all the Au-based coatings exhibited a microstructural uniformity.
- The first mechanical characterization of the coated NiTi ribbons evidenced that the functional properties were not affected by the application of Au-alloy films, since they could easily accommodate both small and large deformations, indicating good ductility and malleability. Indeed, the damping, shape recovery, and superelastic behavior of the NiTi elements were preserved.
- The evaluation of the mechanical properties of the coating/substrate system was performed using the CMC loading procedure. The evolution of both hardness and elastic modulus values were comparable in all the coated samples, and on average, they were slightly higher than the corresponding values for the uncoated NiTi substrates.
- Scratch tests allowed for the investigation of the adhesion performance of the Au-based coatings on the NiTi substrates and evidenced a ductile failure mode without the occurrence of chipping or delamination. In all cases, the mechanical stress produced during the scratch test did not cause the film break at the interface with the NiTi substrate, but the failure of each film was mainly cohesive, indicating a satisfactory adhesion.
- Both the coefficient of friction (COF) and electric contact resistance (ECR) were registered during dry wear tests. The two trends were in accordance and indicated that, thanks to their ductile nature and good adhesion to the substrate, all the Au-based films provided an effective protective action for the NiTi component. Indeed, considering the COF values, they increased progressively with the number of sliding cycles for the NiTi substrate, while a stabilization trend occurred for the coated samples, indicating a less severe friction phenomenon. Among the coatings, the best performance was given by Au5N, which reached the steady state later than the other ones, and its COF settled at a slightly lower value. On the other hand, both Au4N and Au5N coatings, which showed a slower increase in COF with respect to Au2N, exhibited the lowest ECR plateau, indicating a better resistance to wear.
- Tribocorrosion tests in simulated body fluid allowed the evaluation of the lowering of the open cell voltage (OCV), which is frequently observed during sliding and wear in a corrosive environment. The OCV of NiTi abruptly decreased when sliding in Ringer’s solution started, due to the mechanical detachment of the passive film. In the case of the coated samples, the OCV was only slightly disturbed during sliding thanks to the good protective behavior of the Au-coatings in test environment. Moreover, the registered COF curves exhibited, as in the dry wear tests, an increasing trend towards a plateau due to the material wear, which generated particle deliverance that induced a lubricating action. This specific wear behavior of the coated samples was confirmed by the tribocorrosion traces, which appeared smoother thanks to the plastic deformation of the film, therefore protecting the substrate material from wear and corrosion.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Sample | Ms (°C) | Mf (°C) | As (°C) | Af (°C) | ΔHcool (J/g) | ΔHheat (J/g) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NiTi 0.5 | 46.3 | −81.4 | 5.9 | 48.3 | 23.5 | 21.7 |
NiTi 1.1 | 73.0 | 19.7 | 71.3 | 90.7 | 33.4 | 32.9 |
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Villa, F.; Bassani, E.; Passaretti, F.; de Ceglia, G.; Viscuso, S.; Zin, V.; Miorin, E.; Deambrosis, S.M.; Villa, E. Magnetron Sputtering of Au-Based Alloys on NiTi Elements: Surface Investigation for New Products in SMA-Based Fashion and Luxury Accessories and Watchmaking. Coatings 2022, 12, 136. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12020136
Villa F, Bassani E, Passaretti F, de Ceglia G, Viscuso S, Zin V, Miorin E, Deambrosis SM, Villa E. Magnetron Sputtering of Au-Based Alloys on NiTi Elements: Surface Investigation for New Products in SMA-Based Fashion and Luxury Accessories and Watchmaking. Coatings. 2022; 12(2):136. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12020136
Chicago/Turabian StyleVilla, Francesca, Enrico Bassani, Francesca Passaretti, Giuseppe de Ceglia, Stefano Viscuso, Valentina Zin, Enrico Miorin, Silvia Maria Deambrosis, and Elena Villa. 2022. "Magnetron Sputtering of Au-Based Alloys on NiTi Elements: Surface Investigation for New Products in SMA-Based Fashion and Luxury Accessories and Watchmaking" Coatings 12, no. 2: 136. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12020136
APA StyleVilla, F., Bassani, E., Passaretti, F., de Ceglia, G., Viscuso, S., Zin, V., Miorin, E., Deambrosis, S. M., & Villa, E. (2022). Magnetron Sputtering of Au-Based Alloys on NiTi Elements: Surface Investigation for New Products in SMA-Based Fashion and Luxury Accessories and Watchmaking. Coatings, 12(2), 136. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12020136