Factors governing the mechanical behaviour of CrSiN coatings: Combinednanoindentation testing and transmission electron microscopy
Date
2012
Authors
Wo, P.
Munroe, P.
Li, Z.
Jiang, Z.
Xie, Z.
Zhou, Z.
Li, K.
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Journal article
Citation
Materials Science and Engineering A: Structural Materials: Properties, Microstructure and Processing, 2012; 534:297-308
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P.C. Wo, P.R. Munroe, Z. Li, Z.-T. Jiang, Z.H. Xie, Z.F. Zhou, K.Y. Li
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Abstract
A direct link between the microstructure and mechanical properties of CrSiN coatings with varying Si contents was established by examining their microstructural evolution and deformation behaviour, enabled by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. A transformation from a columnar-grained structure, in the binary compound, to a nanocomposite structure, consisting of CrN nanocrystallites embedded in an amorphous matrix, was observed in the coating having a Si content of 28.5at.%. The columnar-structured coatings were observed to deform by grain boundary shear sliding, whilst cracks occurred in nanocomposite coatings. Moreover, the coating having a Si content of 14.3at.% exhibited the highest hardness as a result of grain boundary strengthening facilitated by Si<inf>3</inf>N<inf>4</inf> segregation, together with solid solution strengthening of Si in CrN, the Hall-Petch effect for the finer CrN grains and a high compressive residual stress. A further increase of Si content to 28.5at.% led to a reduction in hardness due to the high volume fraction of the amorphous phase, together with the presence of cracks in the as-deposited coating. The findings provide deeper insight into the origin of the mechanical behaviour of CrSiN coatings. © 2011 Elsevier B.V..
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© 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.