Structural and mechanical properties of CrNx coatings deposited by medium-frequency magnetron sputtering with and without ion source assistance

Abstract

CrNx coatings were deposited on Si (100) and WC-Co substrates by a home-made medium-frequency magnetron sputtering system with and without thermal filament ion source assistance. The structure and composition of the coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The mechanical and tribological properties were assessed by microhardness and pin-on-disc testing. The ion source-assisted system showed a deposition rate of 3.88 m/h, much higher than the value 2.2 m/h without ion source assistance. The CrNx coatings prepared with ion source assistance exhibited an increase in microhardness (up to 16.3GPa) and adecrease in friction coefficient (down to 0.48) at the optimized cathode source-to-substrate distance.