Reduced friction on γ-Mo2N coatings deposited by high power impulse magnetron sputtering on microstructured surfaces

doi:10.1016/j.triboint.2016.10.028

Tribology International

Volume 106, February 2017, Pages 41-45

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2016.10.028 Get rights and content

Highlights

•
Wear-resistant molybdenum nitride coatings are deposited on microstructured steel surfaces.
•
The microstructure is produced by mechanical embossing using diamond stamps.
•
During coating the substrate topography is transferred to the surface of the nitride layer.
•
Coefficient of friction of the microstructured and coated surface can be substantially reduced.

Abstract

Wear-resistant molybdenum nitride (γ-Mo2N) layers are deposited on topographically modified surfaces. Mechanical embossing using diamond decorated stamps is employed to produce steel surfaces containing pit structures with typical lateral dimensions of about 10 µm. Subsequent vacuum deposition of Mo₂N by high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) allows the coating of the surfaces while preserving the surface topography. The so produced surfaces exhibit a substantial reduction of the typically high coefficient of friction (COF). This is revealed in tribological tests in comparison to coatings on non-modified surfaces. Spatially resolved investigations of the obtained abrasion pattern after tribology measurements under high loads and increased temperature allows the description of the decisive tribological processes.

Section snippets

Acknowledgement

The authors appreciate support of C. Kiesl and T. Sörgel for the preparation of the diamond stamps.

References (27)

A. Rosenkranz et al.
Alignment and wear debris effects between laser-patterned steel surfaces under dry sliding conditions
Wear
(2014)
J. Oksanen et al.
Tribological properties of laser-textured and ta-C coated surfaces with burnished WS₂ at elevated temperatures
Tribol Int
(2014)
A. Amanov et al.
A study on the tribological characteristics of duplex-treated Ti–6Al–4V alloy under oil-lubricated sliding conditions
Tribol Int
(2013)
A. Amanov et al.
The influence of bulges produced by laser surface texturing on the sliding friction and wear behavior
Tribol Int
(2013)
A. Amanov et al.
Improvement in the tribological characteristics of Si-DLC coating by laser surface texturing under oil-lubricated point contacts at various temperatures
Surf Coat Technol
(2013)
C. Chouquet et al.
Effect of DLC surface texturing on friction and wear during lubricated sliding
Mater Chem Phys
(2010)
H. Fan et al.
Tribological properties of micro-textured surfaces of ZTA ceramic nanocomposites under the combined effect of test conditions and environments
Tribol Int
(2014)
H. Fan et al.
Surface composition–lubrication design of Al₂O₃/Ni laminated composites—Part I: Tribological synergy effect of micro–dimpled texture and diamond–like carbon films in a water environment
Tribol Int
(2015)
G. Dumitru et al.
Laser treatment of tribological DLC films
Diam Relat Mater
(2003)
X. Lei et al.
Optimization of diamond coated microdrills in aluminum alloy 7075 machining: A case study
Diam Relat Mater
(2015)

J. Lei et al.

Laminated fitting fabrication of Cu–Sn composite 3D microelectrodes and elimination of ridges on the machined surface of 3D micro-cavities

J Mater Process Technol

(2015)

S. Agarwal

On the mechanism and mechanics of material removal in ultrasonic machining

Int J Mach Tool Man

(2015)

L. Rapoport et al.

Friction and wear of MoS₂ films on laser textured steel surfaces

Surf Coat Technol

(2008)

Cited by (12)

Thermal stability and electrochemical behavior of nanostructured Ti-Al(∼1%(at.))-Mo-N coatings deposited using the Arc-PVD method
2022, Journal of Alloys and Compounds
Citation Excerpt :
Their composition and structural features ensure high hardness (35–40 GPa, while hardness of TiN and Mo2N is ∼22–24 GPa), hydroabrasive resistance, and low friction coefficient (0.3 at room temperature and 0.5 at 500 °C) [7]. Such relatively low values of the coefficient of friction are reached because the coating can adapt to friction conditions due to formation of MoO3, which results from oxidation of Mo2N upon heating to 225 °C and acts as a dry lubricant [8–10]. Due to the combination of properties, the scope of application of these coatings is rather broad and is not limited to the afore-listed areas.
The results of studying the electrochemical behavior and thermal stability of multilayered nanostructured Ti-Al-Mo-N coatings deposited using the Arc-PVD method are reported. The paper shows that passivity of the coatings is determined by the possibility of the formation of Al₂O₃ layer at the interface between the aggressive environment and the coating. This effect is more marked for the coatings containing 8 at% Mo than in those containing 30 at% of Mo. It can be explained by higher mobility of Al in the coating with 8 % (at.) of Mo than in the coating with 30 % of Mo which have varied thickness of the Mo₂N layer that inhibits the diffusion of Al. Investigation of thermal stability of the Ti-Al-Mo-N coatings with Mo content of 30 and 8 at% showed that their multilayered architecture are retained at temperatures up to 600 °C.
Synthesis of thin films and coatings by high power impulse magnetron sputtering
2019, High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering: Fundamentals, Technologies, Challenges and Applications
Surface engineering by the addition of thin films and coatings are used in a wide range of technological applications, including surface protection of metal cutting and forming tools, optical devices, and microelectronics. The functionality of thin films and coatings crucially depends on their physical attributes, which are in turn governed by the film morphology and phase composition. By generating ample amounts of ionized film-forming species, HiPIMS represents an effective way of controlling film growth and thereby opens the way to tune material properties. In this chapter we use the fundamental discharge physics discussed in the previous chapters to show how the HiPIMS process parameters can be adjusted to control film growth and thereby tune film properties including hardness, refractive index, and residual stress. Several industrially relevant material systems are covered.
Enhanced wear resistance of molybdenum nitride coatings deposited by high power impulse magnetron sputtering by using micropatterned surfaces
2018, Surface and Coatings Technology
Citation Excerpt :
The two curves in blue and the two in red refer to an imprinting step using 10 μm or 25 μm diamonds, respectively. The associated COF values of the samples used here are already given by Sube et al. [38]. The regular untreated Mo-N coatings exhibit a COF between μ = 0.8 and 0.9 after running-in.
Molybdenum nitride films have been prepared by high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS). Using this particular process it was possible to produce coatings with different stoichiometry and structure morphology exhibiting excellent tribological properties. Mo-N phase analysis was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The chemical composition and surface topography were measured by wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), focused-ion-beam (FIB) cross-sectioning together with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) mapping, stylus profilometry and white-light interferometry, respectively. In a second step the wear-resistant films are deposited on microengineered substrates. The used substrate surfaces before coating were prepared by either micro-embossing using diamond stamps or laser sculpturing. The mechanical properties adhesion, nanohardness, elastic modulus and tribological behavior were acquired and the influence of substrate sculpturing is studied. Tribology measurements have been performed at various temperatures under heavy load and show that an optimized HiPIMS process in combination with pre-patterned surfaces can lead to highly wear-resistant surfaces.
Plasma focus method for growth of molybdenum nitride thin films: Synthesis and thin film characterization
2017, Journal of Alloys and Compounds
Citation Excerpt :
Molybdenum (Mo) and molybdenum nitride (Mo-N) are known for their specific mechanical, chemical and electronic properties, such as excellent hardness, good chemical stability and superconductivity [1–3]. These prominent characteristics make Mo and Mo-N thin films most suitable for diffusion barriers in microelectronics [4], for wear and corrosion resistant coatings in engineering [5], and as a back contact material for thin film solar cells [6]. Moreover, recent studies have presented Mo-N thin films as a nano-sheet for hydrogen evolution [7] or as an advanced anode material for Li ion batteries [8].
Although molybdenum nitride (Mo-N) is prepared intensively by different physical methods, there are no reports available on Mo-N thin films deposited by Plasma focus (PF) device. This study focuses on the characterization of Mo-N thin films deposited on glass substrates at room temperature using a low energy (1.1 kJ) PF device. The structural, morphological, electrical and mechanical properties of Mo-N thin films are investigated in terms of the number of shots. The XRD patterns revealed that all the deposited thin films are polycrystalline in nature, possessing γ − Mo₂N (fcc) structure. Also according to the XRD results, the crystal structure characteristics and residual stress of the deposited thin films were strongly dependent on the number of shots. XPS spectra demonstrated the Mo 3d_3/2, Mo 3d_5/2, Mo 3p_3/2 and N1s peaks for all samples, confirming the formation of γ-Mo₂N structure. The results obtained from SEM images revealed a growth of granular structures and then formation of larger sized agglomerates on the surface of thin films, with an increase in number of shots. The surface roughness and size of grains on the surface of coated films were investigated by AFM analysis. Furthermore, the variation in hardness and electrical resistivity of the Mo-N thin films deposited by different number of shots was explained, qualitatively, on the basis of morphological characteristics of the thin films.
High Ionization Magnetron Sputtering Technology and Industry Applications
2022, Zhongguo Biaomian Gongcheng/China Surface Engineering
Properties of Wear-Resistant MoN Films on Microengineered Substrates
2022, Coatings

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Reduced friction on γ-Mo2N coatings deposited by high power impulse magnetron sputtering on microstructured surfaces

Highlights

Abstract

Section snippets

Acknowledgement

Wear

Tribol Int

Tribol Int

Tribol Int

Surf Coat Technol

Mater Chem Phys

Tribol Int

Tribol Int

Diam Relat Mater

Diam Relat Mater

J Mater Process Technol

Int J Mach Tool Man

Surf Coat Technol

Reduced friction on γ-Mo₂N coatings deposited by high power impulse magnetron sputtering on microstructured surfaces