Phase Composition, Microstructure, and Tribological Behavior of Chrome-Based ARE Coatings

摘要

The paper deals with studying the structure, as well as the mechanical and tribological properties, of chrome-based coatings deposited by activated reactive evaporation (ARE) in the active atmosphere of N_2, CO_2, C_2H_2, and their binary mixtures (50 : 50). Based on the data of the phase composition, conditions for the interaction of a metal being deposited with the active gas have been analyzed. A method of restoring the diffuse scattering by coatings deposited on substrates has been used to investigate specific features of the structural state formed in a coating synthesized in the acetylene - nitrogen mixture and containing the nanostructured carbide phase Cr_3C_2. The results have also indicated the possible formation of microdomains, which contain substantial amounts of free or hydrogenated solid carbon, in some of the coatings. This may explain the fairly high tribological characteristics of these coatings.