Microstructure of α-alumina thin films deposited at low temperatures on chromia template layers

• Radio frequency sputtering has been used to deposit -alumina (-Al2O3) thin films at substrate temperatures of 280–560 °C. The films are shown to be single phased and hard. Nanoindentation gives values of 306±31 and 27±3 GPa for elastic modulus and hardness, respectively, for a substrate temperature of 280 °C. Growth of the phase was achieved by in situ predeposition of a chromia template layer. Chromia crystallizes in the same hexagonal structure as -alumina, with a lattice mismatch of 4.1% in the a- and 4.6% in the c-parameter, and is shown to nucleate readily on the amorphous substrates (silicon with a natural oxide layer). This results in local epitaxy of -alumina on the chromia layer, as is shown by transmission electron microscopy. The alumina grains are columnar with grain widths increasing from 22±7 to 41±9 nm, as the temperature increases from 280 to 560 °C. This is consistent with a surface diffusion dominated growth mode and suggests that -alumina deposition at low temperatures is possible once initial grain nucleation has occurred. Results are also presented demonstrating chromia/-alumina growth on a technological substrate (Haynes230 Ni-based super alloy, Haynes International, Inc.).

Nyckelord

alumina

chromium compounds

sputtered coatings

indentation

elastic moduli

hardness

sputter deposition

transmission electron microscopy

epitaxial layers

grain size

surface diffusion

nucleation

wear resistant coatings

thermal barrier coatings

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