| 1. |
- Nedfors, Nils, et al.
(författare)
-
Superhard NbB2-x thin films deposited by dc magnetron sputtering
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Surface & Coatings Technology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0257-8972 .- 1879-3347. ; 257, s. 295-300
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have deposited weakly textured substoichiometric NbB2-x thin films by magnetron sputtering from a NbB2 target. The films exhibit superhardness (42 ± 4 GPa), previously only observed in overstoichiometric TiB2 thin films, and explained by a self-organized nanostructuring, where thin TiB2 columnar grains hinder nucleation and slip of dislocations and a B-rich tissue phase between the grains prevent grain-boundary sliding. The wide homogeneity range for the NbB2 phase allows a similar ultra-thin B-rich tissue phase to form between thin (5 – 10 nm) columnar NbB2-x grains also for films with a B/Nb atomic ratio of 1.8, as revealed here by analytical aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, a coefficient of friction of 0.16 is measured for a NbB2-x film sliding against stainless steel with a wear rate of 4x10-7 mm3/Nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results suggest that the low friction is due to the formation of a lubricating boric acid film.
|
|
| 2. |
- Malinovskis, Paulius, et al.
(författare)
-
Synthesis and characterisation of Mo-B-C thin films deposited by non-reactive DC magnetron sputtering
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Surface & Coatings Technology. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA. - 0257-8972 .- 1879-3347. ; 309, s. 506-515
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Thin films in the Mo-B-C system with varying carbon content (up to 37 at.%) were deposited using non-reactive DC magnetron sputtering. The phase composition and microstructure were determined and the potential use of the films in sliding electrical contact applications was evaluated. Films with lower than 23 at.% carbon content consisted of nanocrystalline MoB2 - x grains surrounded by an amorphous tissue phase (a-B for binary, and a-BCx for ternary films). With increasing carbon content grain sizes was found to decrease (from 16 to 5 nm), and above 23 at.% carbon the films deposited at room temperature were X-ray amorphous. Scanning transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy reveal that these films contain Mo-rich and Mo-poor regions, and thus are two-phase amorphous nanocomposites. Low-carbon content samples exhibited a friction coefficient against the steel counter surface of 1.1; this was reduced to 0.8 for high carbon-content films. Analysis of the tribofilm revealed formation of molybdenum oxide and amorphous carbon, however without significant lubricating effect at room temperature. Hardness and elastic modulus decrease with carbon content from similar to 29 to similar to 22 GPa and similar to 526 to similar to 326 GPa. These values give an WE ratio of 0.06 to 0.07, indicating brittle material. Resistivity was found to increase with carbon content from similar to 175 mu Omega cm for binary Mo-B to similar to 395 mu Omega cm for Mo-B-C thin film with 37 at.% of C. Therefore all the above results suggest that the Mo-B-C films are not suitable for sliding electrical contacts.
|
|
| 3. |
- Malinovskis, Paulius, et al.
(författare)
-
Synthesis and Characterisation of Nanocomposite Mo-Fe-B Thin Films Deposited by Magnetron Sputtering
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Materials. - : MDPI. - 1996-1944. ; 14:7
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Several ternary phases are known in the Mo-Fe-B system. Previous ab initio calculations have predicted that they should exhibit a tempting mix of mechanical and magnetic properties. In this study, we have deposited Mo-Fe-B films with a Fe-content varying from 0-37 at.% using non-reactive DC (direct current) magnetron sputtering. The phase composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and nanoindentation measurements. Films deposited at 300 degrees C and with >7 at.% Fe are nanocomposites consisting of two amorphous phases: a metal-rich phase and a metal-deficient phase. Hardness and elastic modulus were reduced with increasing Fe-content from similar to 29 to similar to 19 GPa and similar to 526 to similar to 353 GPa, respectively. These values result in H-3/E-2 ratios of 0.089-0.052 GPa, thereby indicating brittle behaviour of the films. Also, no indication of crystalline ternary phases was observed at temperatures up to 600 degrees C, suggesting that higher temperatures are required for such films to form.
|
|
| 4. |
- Mockuté, Aurelija, et al.
(författare)
-
Synthesis and characterization of (Ti1-xAlx)B2+Delta thin films from combinatorial magnetron sputtering
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Thin Solid Films. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA. - 0040-6090 .- 1879-2731. ; 669, s. 181-187
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- (Ti1-xAlx)B2+Delta films with a lateral composition gradient of x = [0.30-0.66] and Delta = [0.07-1.22] were deposited on an Al2O3 wafer by dual magnetron sputtering at 400 degrees C from sintered TiB2 and AlB2 targets. Composition analysis indicates that higher Ti:Al ratios favor overstoichiometry in B and a reduced incorporation of O. Transmission electron microscopy reveals distinctly different microstructures of Ti- and Al-rich compositions, with formation of characteristic conical growth features for the latter along with a lower degree of crystallinity and significantly less tissue phase from B segregation at the grain boundaries. For Al-rich films, phase separation into Ti- and Al-rich diboride nanometer-size domains is observed and interpreted as surface-initiated spinodal decomposition. The hardness of the films ranges from 14 to 28 GPa, where the higher values were obtained for the Ti-rich regions of the metal boride.
|
|
