nc-MeB2/a-MPEA structured (HfMoNbZr)xTi1-xBy films for enhanced hardness, toughness and tribological performance

IF 5.3 2区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, COATINGS & FILMS

Surface & Coatings Technology Pub Date : 2025-02-01 DOI:10.1016/j.surfcoat.2025.131727

Jigang Xie , Yiming Ruan , Hao Du , Lin He , Jie Shi , Hengning Hu , Yun Chen , Liuquan Yang , Rui Shu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study demonstrated the composite concept to precisely control the grain boundary composition to address TiB₂ films inherent brittleness. Such concept was realized by combining high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) with direct current magnetron sputtering (dcMS). By employing an HfMoNbZr-HiPIMS/TiB₂-dcMS co-sputtering configuration, we successfully replaced the B in the grain boundaries with a B-containing amorphous multi-principal element alloy (MPEA). The results showed that TiB₂ film deposited by dcMS alone typically had an overstoichiometric composition, with a B/Ti ratio of 2.96, and a relatively low hardness (H) of 26.6 ± 1.2 GPa. In contrast, the formation of a nanocomposite structure (nc-MeB₂/a-MPEA, i.e., nanocrystalline MeB₂ (Me = HfMoNbZrTi) embedded in an amorphous MPEA matrix), with MeB₂ in-plane grain sizes ranging from 2 to 5 nm, increased the hardness to 41.8 ± 3.7 GPa, while also enhancing indentation fracture toughness and reducing wear rate. This strengthening mechanism was attributed to lattice distortion within the MeB₂ grains and the suppression of grain boundary sliding by the MPEA. In addition, density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated that the higher bulk modulus (B) /shear modulus (G) ratio of the TM_0.44Ti_0.56B₂ (TM = HfMoNbZr) solid solution compared to TiB₂ suggested that the brittleness of the TM_0.44Ti_0.56B₂ solid solution was lower. This study paves a way for the structure design of diborides for various applications.

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来源期刊

Surface & Coatings Technology 工程技术-材料科学：膜

CiteScore

10.00

自引率

11.10%

发文量

921

审稿时长

19 days

期刊介绍： Surface and Coatings Technology is an international archival journal publishing scientific papers on significant developments in surface and interface engineering to modify and improve the surface properties of materials for protection in demanding contact conditions or aggressive environments, or for enhanced functional performance. Contributions range from original scientific articles concerned with fundamental and applied aspects of research or direct applications of metallic, inorganic, organic and composite coatings, to invited reviews of current technology in specific areas. Papers submitted to this journal are expected to be in line with the following aspects in processes, and properties/performance: A. Processes: Physical and chemical vapour deposition techniques, thermal and plasma spraying, surface modification by directed energy techniques such as ion, electron and laser beams, thermo-chemical treatment, wet chemical and electrochemical processes such as plating, sol-gel coating, anodization, plasma electrolytic oxidation, etc., but excluding painting. B. Properties/performance: friction performance, wear resistance (e.g., abrasion, erosion, fretting, etc), corrosion and oxidation resistance, thermal protection, diffusion resistance, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, and properties relevant to smart materials behaviour and enhanced multifunctional performance for environmental, energy and medical applications, but excluding device aspects.