Assessment of ductile character in superhard Ta-C-N thin films
Publikationen: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift › Artikel › Forschung › (peer-reviewed)
Autoren
Organisationseinheiten
Externe Organisationseinheiten
- Plansee Composite Materials GmbH
- University of California, Berkeley
- Technische Universität Wien
Abstract
Using a combination of density functional theory calculations and nanomechanical testing of sputter-deposited, 110-oriented Ta 0.47C 0.34N 0.19 thin films, we show that non-metal alloying – substituting C with N atoms – in TaC results in a super-hard material with enhanced ductility. Based on the calculated elastic constants, with Pugh and Pettifor criteria for ductile character, we predict that stoichiometric and sub-stoichiometric Ta-C-N alloys are more ductile than Ta-C compounds. From nanoindentation of the as-deposited coating, we measure hardness of 43 ± 1.4 GPa. In situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) based micro-compression of cylindrical pillars, prepared via focused ion beam milling of the coating, revealed that Ta-C-N alloys are ductile and undergo plastic deformation with a yield strength of 17 ± 1.4 GPa. The post-compression SEM images of the pillars show {111} <011¯> as the active slip system operating during compression. Additional in situ SEM based cantilever tests suggest that the Ta-C-N films exhibit superior fracture toughness compared to Ta-C coatings. Our results provide a new perspective on the role of alloying on the mechanical behavior of ultra-high temperature compounds such as transition-metal carbides.
Details
Originalsprache | Englisch |
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Seiten (von - bis) | 17-25 |
Seitenumfang | 9 |
Fachzeitschrift | Acta materialia |
Jahrgang | 179.2019 |
Ausgabenummer | 15 October |
Frühes Online-Datum | 10 Aug. 2019 |
DOIs | |
Status | Veröffentlicht - 15 Okt. 2019 |