Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Co-Sputtering (Mo, Hf)N Coatings
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Please see the attached PDF file.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please check the attached file entitled "coverletter-responses-syhsu-r1".
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The paper focuses on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of (Mo, Hf)N ternary nitride coatings produced with input power modulation by radiofrequency and magnetron sputtering techniques. The coated samples have been analyzed by nano-indentation, adhesion, and wear tests.
The main strength of the paper is that it offers a meticulous analysis of the microstructure and mechanical properties variation with the modulation of input power.
There are still some weaknesses which must be addressed in my opinion.
- The introduction section should provide a raft description of the coating procedure and a deeper analysis of the literature. Moreover, in the last sentence, the authors wrote “… are investigated through nano-indentation, adhesion and wear tests.”, but in following no reference to adhesion test is reported.
- In subsection 3.4.1, the authors wrote “When Mo/Hf input power modulation changes from 150/25 to 150/100 W/W, the hardness of the coatings increased gradually and reach a maximum of 22.5 GPa”. However, the trend visible in Figure 8 is slightly different from the author’s description. Hardness value, in fact, remains almost constant from 150/25 to 150/75 W/W and then presents a rapid increase at 150/100 W/W. A revision of this period should be done. To strengthen the proposed results, further clarifications must be provided in this section, i.e., the load at which the indentations are performed, the number of data collected for each measurement, etc.
- Finally, the authors should add a description of the future developments of this analysis and the potential practical applications of the determining trends.
Author Response
Please check the attached file entitled "coverletter-responses-syhsu-r1".
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Authors have done the microstructural characterization and mechanical properties. However, I feel some of the study should be present in the manuscript to strengthen it.
- Microhardness variation is shown here, but other surface integrity characteristics like variation of surface residual stress should be add to the manuscript.
- The variation in residual stress, microhardness and elastic constant through out the depth of coating from top coating surface to bottom should be added in manuscript.
- Rest, I am satisfied with the microstructural discussion.
Author Response
Please check the attached file entitled "coverletter-responses-syhsu-r1".
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Authors have reasonably addressed my comments. The paper can be accepted for publication.
Reviewer 3 Report
it seems that the authors do not have the results which the reviewer suggested. I don't find any revision in the manuscript.
In my opinion, I can not accept the manuscript which has not to fulfil the quality standard content for the reputed journals.
