Synthesis and characterization of Ta–B–C coatings prepared by DCMS and HiPIMS co-sputtering

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Authors

POLAČEK Maroš SOUČEK Pavel ALISHAHI Mostafa KOUTNÁ N. KLEIN Peter ZÁBRANSKÝ Lukáš CZIGÁNY Zsolt BALÁZSI K. VAŠINA Petr

Year of publication 2022
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Vacuum
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Web https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vacuum.2022.110937
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vacuum.2022.110937
Keywords Magnetron sputtering; HiPIMS; Ta–B–C; Microstructure; Mechanical properties
Description This study reports on the deposition and properties of Ta–B–C coatings by the co-sputtering of tantalum, boron carbide, and graphite targets using High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS). It was possible to affect the microstructure of the deposited coatings by altering the deposition temperature or by the application of RF induced self-bias on the substrates without changing their chemical composition. The only identified crystalline phase from the Ta–B–C system present was TaC. The boron content in the coatings shows that the TaC crystallite size can be changed by a factor of 10 by changing the power to the boron carbide target. Mechanical properties of the coatings measured directly after the synthesis yield hardness higher than 40 GPa. After the relaxation of internal stress in the coatings (after one year) and changes in the structure, the hardness of all coatings was close to 36 GPa. According to ab initio calculations, the B incorporation in the fcc lattice of TaC in combination with C vacancies lead to lower (higher) shear-to-bulk modulus ratio (Poisson’s ratio), providing a good basis for improved ductility. All in all, Ta–B–C system shows a good potential as a novel hard protective coating.
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