Effect of Cr/Zr metal layer on the microstructure and properties of CrN coating deposited by arc ion plating

IF 6.1 2区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, COATINGS & FILMS

Surface & Coatings Technology Pub Date : 2025-09-23 DOI:10.1016/j.surfcoat.2025.132730

Zhendong Zhao , Yinglin Guan , Yichuan He , Yitao Xin , Yongjun Hu , Le Huang , Qian Shi , Changguang Deng

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study utilized first-principles calculations to evaluate the interfacial work of separation (Wsep) in metal/CrN systems, revealing that the Cr(111)/CrN(111) interface exhibits the highest adhesion strength of 0.44 eV/Å², followed by the Zr(002)/CrN(111) interface with 0.37 eV/Å². This result is consistent with the Wsep value calculated for the Cr(210) crystal plane. Guided by these theoretical predictions, Cr/CrN and Zr/CrN multilayer coatings were synthesized via arc ion plating to enable systematic comparative analysis. Microstructural characterization demonstrated that Cr/CrN coatings exhibit superior surface integrity, characterized by diminished defect density and lower roughness. Nanoindentation tests confirmed enhanced mechanical properties in Cr/CrN, with hardness reaching 20.9 ± 0.3 GPa, elastic modulus of 342.6 ± 4.9 GPa, and improved plasticity indices. Additionally, Cr/CrN coatings displayed superior bonding strength of 33.6 N. Tribological analysis under varying loads revealed ultralow wear rates for both coatings at 10 N, which were attributed to nanocrystalline grain boundary strengthening and compressive stress effects. However, Cr/CrN demonstrated exceptional wear resistance under medium-load conditions, where the wear mechanism transitioned from adhesive to a combined adhesive-abrasive-oxidative mode. High-temperature oxidation tests further validated Cr/CrN's thermal stability through the formation of a protective Cr₂O₃ layer, in contrast to Zr/CrN's degradation via monoclinic ZrO₂ (m-ZrO₂) oxide formation. The experimental validation of Cr/CrN's superior interfacial compatibility and multifunctional performance aligns with its theoretically predicted high Wsep, thereby establishing a robust computational-experimental framework for the design of high-performance wear-resistant coatings.

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Cr/Zr金属层对电弧离子镀CrN涂层组织和性能的影响

本研究利用第一原理计算方法评估了金属/CrN体系的界面分离功（Wsep），结果表明，Cr(111)/CrN（111）界面的粘附强度最高，为0.44 eV/Å2，其次是Zr(002)/CrN（111）界面，粘附强度为0.37 eV/Å2。这一结果与Cr（210）晶面的Wsep值一致。在这些理论预测的指导下，通过电弧离子镀合成了Cr/CrN和Zr/CrN多层涂层，并进行了系统的比较分析。显微组织表征表明，Cr/CrN涂层具有较好的表面完整性，缺陷密度降低，粗糙度降低。纳米压痕实验表明，Cr/CrN的力学性能得到增强，硬度达到20.9±0.3 GPa，弹性模量达到342.6±4.9 GPa，塑性指标得到改善。此外，Cr/CrN涂层的结合强度高达33.6 N，不同载荷下的摩擦学分析表明，两种涂层在10 N时的超低磨损率归因于纳米晶晶界强化和压应力效应。然而，Cr/CrN在中等负荷条件下表现出优异的耐磨性，其中磨损机制从粘合剂转变为粘合剂-磨料-氧化组合模式。高温氧化测试通过形成保护性的Cr₂O₃层进一步验证了Cr/CrN的热稳定性，与Zr/CrN通过单斜ZrO₂（m-ZrO₂）氧化物形成的降解形成对比。Cr/CrN优越的界面相容性和多功能性能的实验验证与其理论预测的高Wsep一致，从而为高性能耐磨涂层的设计建立了一个强大的计算-实验框架。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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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.