TY - JOUR

T1 - Influence of B content on microstructure, phase composition and mechanical properties of CVD Ti(B,N) coatings

AU - Tkadletz, Michael

AU - Schalk, Nina

AU - Lechner, Alexandra

AU - Hatzenbichler, Lukas

AU - Holec, David

AU - Hofer, Christina

AU - Deluca, Marco

AU - Sartory, Bernhard

AU - Lyapin, Andrey

AU - Julin, Jaakko

AU - Czettl, Christoph

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s)

PY - 2022/1/10

Y1 - 2022/1/10

N2 - Within this work the effect of the B content on the microstructure, phase composition and mechanical properties of CVD Ti(B,N) coatings is investigated. Ti(B,N) coatings with B contents from 0 (fcc-TiN) to ∼5, ∼15, ∼30, ∼45 and 66 (h-TiB 2) at.% have been deposited by CVD. The elemental composition of the coatings was confirmed by ERDA and their microstructure was investigated using XRD and SEM. With increasing B content, a transition from a fcc to a h-dominated structure via dual-phase fcc/h-Ti(B,N) was observed, which was accompanied by a decreasing grain size from the µm to nm range. Combinatorial use of Raman spectroscopy, XPS and APT measurements indicated B-rich grain boundary segregations and the formation of increasing amounts of h-Ti(B,N) 2 clusters embedded within an fcc-Ti(B,N) matrix up to B contents of ∼30 at.%, while for ∼45 at.% B the matrix was predominantly composed of h-Ti(B,N) 2. Complementary ab initio calculations predicting the phase formation confirmed the interpretation of the experimental results. In terms of the mechanical properties, nanoindentation measurements and micromechanical testing revealed a rise in hardness from ∼18 to ∼41 GPa and an increasing fracture stress and toughness from ∼7 to ∼13 GPa and ∼4.6 to ∼5.5 MPam 1/2, respectively, by increasing the B content up to ∼30 at.%. In contrast, a significant drop in hardness, fracture stress and fracture toughness was observed at ∼45 at.% B. Thus it can be concluded, that both h-TiB 2 and dual-phase fcc/h-Ti(B,N) coatings with maximized B content yield superior properties over TiN and consequently improved performance.

AB - Within this work the effect of the B content on the microstructure, phase composition and mechanical properties of CVD Ti(B,N) coatings is investigated. Ti(B,N) coatings with B contents from 0 (fcc-TiN) to ∼5, ∼15, ∼30, ∼45 and 66 (h-TiB 2) at.% have been deposited by CVD. The elemental composition of the coatings was confirmed by ERDA and their microstructure was investigated using XRD and SEM. With increasing B content, a transition from a fcc to a h-dominated structure via dual-phase fcc/h-Ti(B,N) was observed, which was accompanied by a decreasing grain size from the µm to nm range. Combinatorial use of Raman spectroscopy, XPS and APT measurements indicated B-rich grain boundary segregations and the formation of increasing amounts of h-Ti(B,N) 2 clusters embedded within an fcc-Ti(B,N) matrix up to B contents of ∼30 at.%, while for ∼45 at.% B the matrix was predominantly composed of h-Ti(B,N) 2. Complementary ab initio calculations predicting the phase formation confirmed the interpretation of the experimental results. In terms of the mechanical properties, nanoindentation measurements and micromechanical testing revealed a rise in hardness from ∼18 to ∼41 GPa and an increasing fracture stress and toughness from ∼7 to ∼13 GPa and ∼4.6 to ∼5.5 MPam 1/2, respectively, by increasing the B content up to ∼30 at.%. In contrast, a significant drop in hardness, fracture stress and fracture toughness was observed at ∼45 at.% B. Thus it can be concluded, that both h-TiB 2 and dual-phase fcc/h-Ti(B,N) coatings with maximized B content yield superior properties over TiN and consequently improved performance.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85122824506&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.mtla.2022.101323

DO - 10.1016/j.mtla.2022.101323

M3 - Article

VL - 21.2022

JO - Materialia

JF - Materialia

SN - 2589-1529

IS - March

M1 - 101323

ER -