Electrochemical characterization of Cr/CrN/B4C/B-C-N films deposited by magnetron sputtering under mixed Ar-Ne atmospheres

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216305%3A26620%2F26%3A0197873" target="_blank" >RIV/00216305:26620/26:0197873 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0042207X25002829?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0042207X25002829?via%3Dihub</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vacuum.2025.114292" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.vacuum.2025.114292</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Electrochemical characterization of Cr/CrN/B4C/B-C-N films deposited by magnetron sputtering under mixed Ar-Ne atmospheres

Original language description

B-C-N coatings have the potential to combine the properties of B4C, BN, CNx, and carbon structures, resulting in coatings with high hardness, low friction coefficient, high wear resistance, and high corrosion resistance, making them highly attractive for many applications as protective coatings. In this investigation, the impact of the Ar:Ne flow rate ratio used in the deposition process on the properties of Cr/CrN/B4C/B-C-N films was analyzed. The films were deposited by magnetron sputtering onto AISI M2 steel and silicon wafer substrates. The study focused on analyzing the influence of Ne addition to the working atmosphere on the bonding structure, chemical composition, and electrochemical behavior of the films. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Xray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to determine the morphology, roughness, crystalline structure, BN phase fractions, atomic composition, and bonding states of the films. XRD analysis revealed that the B4C/B-C-N layers had an amorphous structure, while FTIR and XPS identified the presence of sp2 B-N, C=C, C-N, C=N, and B-O bonds within the films. Additionally, XPS studies demonstrated that higher Ne flow rate fractions (Ne70) increased nitrogen and boron content and reduced oxygen and carbon fractions, indicating enhanced nitrogen incorporation. Electrochemical tests were conducted on all samples and the uncoated metallic substrate in a 3.5 wt % NaCl solution as the electrolyte. These tests included open-circuit potential (OCP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and potentiodynamic polarization (PD) measurements. The results showed that the Cr/CrN/B4C/B-C-N films deposited on AISI M2 steel exhibited superior corrosion resistance compared to the uncoated AISI M2 substrate. Notably, films deposited at higher Ne flow rate fractions exhibited 5.0-fold improved corrosion protection, attributed to lower porosity and denser microstructure.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

20506 - Coating and films

Project

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Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Vacuum

ISSN

0042-207X

e-ISSN

1879-2715

Volume of the periodical

238

Issue of the periodical within the volume

114292

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

12

Pages from-to

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UT code for WoS article

001461109200001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105001267712