• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.236-242
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• 2001

HfN/Si$_3$N$_4$and NbN/Si$_3$N$_4$ multilayer coatings were deposited onto a high speed tool steel substrate by reactive sputtering and their mechanical properties were evaluated in terms of the dependence of hardness and adhesion strength on the sputter deposition process parameters. The hardnesses of both HfN/Si$_3$N$_4$and NbN/Si$_3$N$_4$ multiplayer coatings increase up to the flux ratio of 0.4 but nearly do not change after that as the $N_2$/Ar flux ratio in nitride sputter deposition increases. The hardnesses of both multiplayer coatings nearly do not change with annealing at low temperatures but decrease owing to oxidation with annealing at a high temperature like 80$0^{\circ}C$ after depositing the layers by sputtering. Post-annealing at low temperatures increases the adhesion strength of the multilayers. but high temperature annealing is not desirable since it decreases the adhesion strength besides the hardness deterioration.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.31-32
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• 2001

Recently, many of the current development in surface modification engineering are focused on multilayered coatings. Multilayered coatings have the potential to improve the tribological and corrosion properties of tools and components. By using cathodic arc deposition, $WC-Ti_{1-x}Al_xN$ multilayers were deposited on steel substrates. Wear tests of four multiplayer coatings were performed using a ball-on-disc configuration with a linear sliding speed of 0.1m/s, 5N load. The tests were carried out at room temperature in airby employing AISI 52100 steel ball ($H_v=848N$) of 11mm in diameter. Electrochemical tests were performed using the potentiodynamic and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The surface morphology and topography of the wear scars of tribo-element and the corroded specimen have been determined by using scanning electron spectroscopy (SEM). Also, wear mechanism was determined by using SEM coupled with EDS. Results have showed an improved wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the $WC-Ti_{1-x}Al_xN$ coatings.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.435-444
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• 2001

WC-( $Ti_{1-x}$ A $l_{x}$) N coatings of constant changing Al concentration were deposited on S45C substrates by high-ionization sputtered PVD method. The Al concentration could be controlled by using evaporation source for Al and fixing the evaporation rate of the metals (i.e, WC- $Ti_{0.86}$A $l_{0.14}$N, WC- $Ti_{0.72}$A $l_{0.28}$N, and WC- $Ti_{0.58}$A $l_{0.42}$N). The corrosion behavior of WC-( $Ti_{1-x}$ A $l_{x}$)N coatings in a deaerated 3.5% NaCl solution was investigated by electrochemical corrosion tests and surface analyses. The measured galvanic corrosion currents between coating and substrate indicated that WC- $Ti_{0.72}$A $l_{0.28}$N coating showed the best resistance of the coating tested. The results of potentiodynamic polarization tests showed that the WC- $Ti_{0.72}$A $l_{0.28}$N coating deposited with 32W/c $m^2$ of Al target revealed higher corrosion resistance. This indicated that the WC- $Ti_{0.72}$A $l_{0.28}$N coating is effective in improving corrosion resistance. In EIS, the WC- $Ti_{0.72}$A $l_{0.28}$N coating showed one time constant loop and increased a polarization resistance of coating ( $R_{coat}$) relative to other samples. Compositional variations of WC-( $Ti_{1-x}$ A $l_{x}$)N coatings were analyzed by EDS and XRD analysis was performed to evaluate the crystal structure and compounds formation behavior. Surface morphologies of the films were observed using SEM and AFM. Scratch test was performed to measure film adhesion strength.strength. adhesion strength.strength.