Microscopic study on the interfacial strength of hydrogenated amorphous carbon coating systems

The microstructure and the adhesion strength of two hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) coatings on steel substrates with a Cr adhesion layer were investigated by Rockwell C testing, Focused Ion Beam and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). variation of the coatings in the ramp layer between Cr and a-C:H resulted in a good or poor adhesion behaviour. Both coatings exhibited in the ramp layer a quasi amorphous matrix structure with short-range ordered substructures. No crystalline chromium carbides could be detected in these regions. Focused investigations of the chemical gradients with Energy Filtered TEM (EFTEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) spectrometry revealed a clear difference in the chemical composition of the ramp layers. Smooth gradients together with a nanocomposite structure seem to provide a high stability of the ramp layer against delamination.