TY - JOUR

T1 - Materials science-based guidelines to develop robust hard thin film materials

AU - Mayrhofer, Paul Heinz

AU - Clemens, Helmut

AU - Fischer, Franz-Dieter

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s)

PY - 2024/6/3

Y1 - 2024/6/3

N2 - For mechanically dominated load profiles, nitrides are preferred as the base material for structural and functional hard coatings, while oxide-based materials offer better protection against high-temperature corrosion (such as oxidation). Thus, when mechanical and thermal loads are combined, the nitrides used should also have excellent stability against temperature and oxidation. How to develop such nitride materials that can withstand both high mechanical and thermal loads is the focus of this review article. This is done primarily with the help of experimental and theoretical investigations of the Ti–Al–N system. On the basis of transition metal nitride coatings, we discuss important material development guidelines for improved strength, fracture toughness as well as thermal stability and oxidation resistance. Using various superlattice coatings, we further discuss how such nanolamellar microstructures can improve both the strength and fracture toughness of hard coating materials. In addition, other concepts for improving fracture toughness are discussed, with a focus on those that can increase both fracture toughness and hardness. The individual concepts allow to design materials to meet the ever-growing demand for coatings with a wide range of excellent properties and outstanding property combinations.

AB - For mechanically dominated load profiles, nitrides are preferred as the base material for structural and functional hard coatings, while oxide-based materials offer better protection against high-temperature corrosion (such as oxidation). Thus, when mechanical and thermal loads are combined, the nitrides used should also have excellent stability against temperature and oxidation. How to develop such nitride materials that can withstand both high mechanical and thermal loads is the focus of this review article. This is done primarily with the help of experimental and theoretical investigations of the Ti–Al–N system. On the basis of transition metal nitride coatings, we discuss important material development guidelines for improved strength, fracture toughness as well as thermal stability and oxidation resistance. Using various superlattice coatings, we further discuss how such nanolamellar microstructures can improve both the strength and fracture toughness of hard coating materials. In addition, other concepts for improving fracture toughness are discussed, with a focus on those that can increase both fracture toughness and hardness. The individual concepts allow to design materials to meet the ever-growing demand for coatings with a wide range of excellent properties and outstanding property combinations.

KW - Fracture toughness

KW - Hard coatings

KW - Hardness

KW - Oxidation resistance

KW - PVD

KW - Thermal stability

KW - TiAlN

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85195382150&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.pmatsci.2024.101323

DO - 10.1016/j.pmatsci.2024.101323

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:85195382150

VL - 146.2024

JO - Progress in materials science

JF - Progress in materials science

SN - 0079-6425

IS - December

M1 - 101323

ER -