Nanolayered multilayer coatings of CrN/CrAlN prepared by reactive DC magnetron sputtering

Single-phase CrN and CrAlN coatings were deposited on silicon and mild steel substrates using a reactiveDC magnetron sputtering system. The structural characterization of the coatings was done using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD data showed that both the CrN and CrAlN coatings exhibited B1 NaCl structure with a prominent reflection along (2 0 0) plane. The bonding structure of the coatings was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and the surface morphology of the coatings was studied using atomic force microscopy. Subsequently, nanolayered CrN/CrAlN multilayer coatings with a total thickness of approximately 1 mm were deposited on silicon substrates at different modulation wavelengths (L). The XRD data showed that all the multilayer coatings were textured along {2 0 0}. The CrN/CrAlN multilayer coatings exhibited a maximum nanoindentation hardness of 3125 kg/mm2 at a modulation wavelength of 72 A ° , whereas single layer CrN and CrAlN deposited under similar conditions exhibited hardness values of 2375 and 2800 kg/mm2, respectively. Structural changes as a result of heating of the multilayer coatings in air (400–800 8C) were characterized using XRD and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The XRD data showed that the multilayer coatings were stable up to a temperature of 650 8C and peaks pertaining to Cr2O3 started appearing at 700 8C. These results were confirmed by micro-Raman spectroscopy. Nanoindentation measurements performed on the heat-treated coatings revealed that the multilayer coatings retained hardness as high as 2250 kg/mm2 after annealing up to a temperature of 600 8C.