Multifunctional ZrB2-rich Zr1-xCrxBy thin films with enhanced mechanical, oxidation, and corrosion properties

Journal article (2021)

Authors

Babak Bakhit Linköping University
Samira Dorri Linköping University
Grzegorz Greczynski Linköping University
A.M. Kooijman Team Arjan Mol - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Zhengtao Wu Guangdong University of Technology
Jun Lu Linköping University
Johanna Rosen Linköping University
J.M.C. Mol Team Arjan Mol - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Lars Hultman Linköping University
Ivan Petrov Linköping University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
J. E. Greene Linköping University, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
Research Group
Team Arjan Mol (Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2021 Babak Bakhit, Samira Dorri, A.M. Kooijman, Zhengtao Wu, Jun Lu, Johanna Rosen, J.M.C. Mol, Lars Hultman, Ivan Petrov, J. E. Greene, Grzegorz Greczynski
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vacuum.2020.109990
More Info
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Published Date

2021

Language

English

Faculty

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Department

Materials Science and Engineering

Research Group

Team Arjan Mol

Abstract

Refractory transition-metal (TM) diborides have high melting points, excellent hardness, and good chemical stability. However, these properties are not sufficient for applications involving extreme environments that require high mechanical strength as well as oxidation and corrosion resistance. Here, we study the effect of Cr addition on the properties of ZrB2-rich Zr1-xCrxBy thin films grown by hybrid high-power impulse and dc magnetron co-sputtering (Cr-HiPIMS/ZrB2-DCMS) with a 100-V Cr-metal-ion synchronized bias. Cr metal fraction, x = Cr/(Zr + Cr), is increased from 0.23 to 0.44 by decreasing the power PZrB2 applied to the DCMS ZrB2 target from 4000 to 2000 W, while the average power, pulse width, and frequency applied to the HiPIMS Cr target are maintained constant. In addition, y decreases from 2.18 to 1.11 as a function of PZrB2, as a result of supplying Cr to the growing film and preferential B resputtering caused by the pulsed Cr-ion flux. ZrB2.18, Zr0·77Cr0·23B1.52, Zr0·71Cr0·29B1.42, and Zr0·68Cr0·32B1.38 films have hexagonal AlB2 crystal structure with a columnar nanostructure, while Zr0·64Cr0·36B1.30 and Zr0·56Cr0·44B1.11 are amorphous. All films show hardness above 30 GPa. Zr0.56Cr0.44B1.11 alloys exhibit much better toughness, wear, oxidation, and corrosion resistance than ZrB2.18. This combination of properties makes Zr0·56Cr0·44B1.11 ideal candidates for numerous strategic applications.