Effects of Cu Content on Thermal Stability and Wear Behavior of Al-12.5Si-1.0Mg Alloy

This study investigates how Cu content affects thermal stability and wear behavior of Al-12.5Si-1.0Mg alloy, by adding 2.55 and 4.53 wt.% Cu. The low-Cu and high-Cu alloys were isothermally heat-treated at 300 °C for 100 h. The results indicated that the amount of eutectic Al₂Cu and Al₅Cu₂Mg₈Si₆ particles in the high-Cu alloy was more than that in the low-Cu alloy. These hard particles retained in the Al matrices during isothermal heat treatment, maintaining a relatively stable hardness. Therefore, the hardness of the high-Cu alloy was superior to that of the low-Cu alloy in as-cast condition and after isothermal heat treatment. For wear behavior, both isothermal heat-treated alloys showed the same wear rate with 10 N normal load. The wear rate of Al-12.5Si-1.0Mg alloy was independent on the copper content under 10 N load, but the wear rate at a load of 40 N decreased with increasing Cu content in Al-12.5Si-1.0Mg alloy.     

Effects of Duplex Nitriding and TiN Coating Treatment on Wear Resistance,Corrosion Resistance and Biocompatibility of Ti6Al4V Alloy

Ti6Al4V alloy substrates were nitrided at 900 °C. TiN coatings were then deposited on the nitrided substrates using a closed-field unbalanced magnetron sputtering system. The microstructure, hardness and adhesion properties of the TiN-N-Ti6Al4V substrates were evaluated and compared with those of an untreated Ti6Al4V sample, a nitrided Ti6Al4V sample and a TiN-coated Ti6Al4V sample, respectively. The tribological properties of the various samples were investigated by means of reciprocating sliding wear tests performed in 0.9 wt.% NaCl solution against 316L, Si₃N₄ and Ti6Al4V balls, respectively. In addition, the corrosion resistance was evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization tests. Finally, the biocompatibility of the samples was investigated by observing the attachment and growth of purified mouse leukemic monocyte/macrophage cells (Raw 264.7) on the sample surface after culturing periods of 24, 72 and 120 h, respectively. Overall, the results showed that the duplex nitriding/TiN coating treatment significantly improved the tribological, anti-corrosion and biocompatibility properties of the original Ti6Al4V alloy.     

A comparative study: The effect of surface treatments on the tribological properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy

The effect of different surface treatments on the wear resistance of Ti-6Al-4V alloy has been investigated. For this purpose, plasma nitriding treatment was performed in a gas mixture 75% N₂-25% Ar, for 1 h treatment time and at 750 °C. The thin films were deposited using CFUMBS technique. The results showed that more surface roughness was obtained for nitrided specimens compared with thin film deposited specimens. It was also observed that both surface treatments improved the wear resistance of Ti-6Al-4V alloy. It was determined that plasma nitrided specimens exhibited excellent wear resistance compared with thin film deposited ones when applied load increased. Similar results were obtained from surface hardness measurements, and it was observed that load bearing capacity increased after plasma nitriding. The corrosion resistance of both surface treatments showed similar properties.     

Modification of Low-Alloy Steel Surface by High-Temperature Gas Nitriding Plus Tempering

The low-alloy steel was nitrided in a pure NH₃ gas atmosphere at 640 ~ 660 °C for 2 h, i.e., high-temperature gas nitriding (HTGN), followed by tempering at 225 °C, which can produce a high property surface coating without brittle compound (white) layer. The steel was also plasma nitriding for comparison. The composition, microstructure and microhardness of the nitrided and tempered specimens were examined, and their tribological behavior investigated. The results showed that the as-gas-nitrided layer consisted of a white layer composed of FeN_0.095 phase (nitrided austenite) and a diffusional zone underneath the white layer. After tempering, the white layer was decomposed to a nano-sized (α-Fe + γ′-Fe₄N + retained austenite) bainitic microstructure with a high hardness of 1150HV/25 g. Wear test results showed that the wear resistance and wear coefficient yielded by the complex HTGN plus tempering were considerably higher and lower, respectively, than those produced by the conventional plasma nitriding.     

Influence of Plasma Nitriding on the Microstructure, Wear, and Corrosion Properties of Quenched 30CrMnSiA Steel

The oil-quenched 30CrMnSiA steel specimens have been pulse plasma-nitrided for 4 h using a constant 25% N₂-75% H₂ gaseous mixture. Different nitriding temperatures varying from 400 to 560 °C have been used to investigate the effects of treatment temperature on the microstructure, microhardness, wear, and corrosion resistances of the surface layers of the nitrided specimens. The results show that significant surface-hardened layer consisting of compound and diffusion layers can be obtained when the oil-quenched steel (α′-Fe) are plasma-nitrided at these experimental conditions, and the compound layer mainly consists of ε-Fe_2-3N and γ′-Fe₄N phases. Lower temperature (400-500 °C) nitriding favors the formation of ε-Fe_2-3N phase in surface layer, while a monophase γ′-Fe₄N layer can be obtained when the nitriding is carried out at a higher temperature (560 °C). With increasing nitriding temperature, the compound layer thickness increases firstly from 2-3 μm (400 °C) to 8 μm (500 °C) and then decreases to 4.5 μm (560 °C). The surface roughness increases remarkably, and both the surface and inner microhardness of the nitrided samples decrease as increasing the temperature. The compact compound layers with more ε-Fe_2-3N phase can be obtained at lower temperature and have much higher wear and corrosion resistances than those compound layers formed employing 500-560 °C plasma nitriding.     

Preparation and properties of W–Cu–Zn alloy with low W–W contiguity

The W–Cu–Zn alloy with a-brass matrix and low W–W contiguity was prepared by method of electroless copper plating combined with spark plasma sintering(SPS) method.The effects of process and parameters on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloy were investigated.The W–Cu–Zn alloy with a relative density of 96 % and a W–W contiguity of about 10 % was prepared by original fine tungsten particles combined with wet mixing method and SPS solid-state sintering method at 800 °C for 10 min.The microstructure analysis shows that Cu–Zn matrix consists of nano-sized a-brass grains,and the main composition is Cu_3Zn electride.The nano-sized Cu was coated on the surface of tungsten particles by electroless copper plating method,and the fairly low consolidation temperature and short solid-state sintering time result in the nano-sized matrix phase.The dynamic compressive strength of the W–Cu–Zn alloy achieves to1000 MPa,but the alloy shows poor ductility due to the formation of the hard and brittle Cu_3Zn electrides.The fine-grain strengthening and the solution strengthening of the Cu–Zn matrix phase are responsible for the high Vickers microhardness of about 300 MPa for W–Cu–Zn alloy.     

The Tribological Performance of Surface Treated Ti6A14V as Sliding Against Si<Subscript>3</Subscript>N<Subscript>4</Subscript> Ball and 316L Stainless Steel Cylinder

Closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering was used to deposit diamond-like carbon (Ti-C:H) coatings on Ti6Al4V alloy and gas nitrided Ti6Al4V alloy. Four different specimens were prepared, namely untreated Ti6Al4V alloy (Ti6Al4V), gas nitrided Ti6Al4V alloy (N-Ti6Al4V), Ti-C:H-coated Ti6Al4V alloy (Ti-C:H/Ti6Al4V) and Ti-C:H-coated gas nitrided Ti6Al4V alloy (Ti-C:H/N-Ti6Al4V). The tribological properties of the four specimens were evaluated using a reciprocating wear tester sliding against a Si₃N₄ ball (point contact mode) and 316L stainless steel cylinder (line contact mode). The wear tests were performed in a 0.89 wt.% NaCl solution. The results showed that the nitriding treatment increased the surface roughness and hardness of the Ti6Al4V alloy and improved the wear resistance as a result. In addition, the Ti-C:H coating also improved the tribological performance of Ti6Al4V. For example, compared to the untreated Ti6Al4V sample, the Ti-C:H coating reduced the wear depth and friction coefficient by 340 times and 10 times, respectively, in the point contact wear mode, and 151 times and 9 times, respectively, in the line contact wear mode. It is thus inferred that diamond-like carbon coatings are of significant benefit in extending the service life of artificial biomedical implants.     

Transient Oxidation of Cu-5at.%Ni(001): Temperature Dependent Sequential Oxide Formation

The transient oxidation stage of a model metal alloy thin film was characterized with in situ ultra-high vacuum (UHV) transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and analytical high-resolution TEM. We observed the formations of nanosized NiO and Cu₂O islands when Cu-5at.%Ni(001) was exposed to oxygen partial pressure, $ {\text{pO}}_{ 2} = 1 \times 10^{ - 4} \,{\text{Torr}} $ and various temperatures in situ. At 350 °C epitaxial Cu₂O islands formed initially and then NiO islands appeared on the surface of the Cu₂O island, whereas at 550 °C NiO appeared first. XPS and TEM revealed a sequential formation of NiO and then Cu₂O islands at 550 °C. The temperature-dependent oxide selection may be due to an increase of the diffusivity of Ni in Cu with increasing temperature.     

共溅射制备稀土镱掺杂Zr基非晶合金薄膜

Zr基非晶合金的实际应用受到材料本证脆性以及苛刻的制备条件的阻碍,这与其缺乏滑移剪切带和有限的非晶形成能力密切相关。因此,本文通过磁控共溅射成功制备了稀土镱(Yb)掺杂Zr基非晶合金薄膜,采用扫描电子显微镜(Scanning electron microscope, SEM)、能谱分析(Energy dispersive spectrometer,EDS)、X射线衍射(X-ray diffraction, XRD)和接触角测试仪等测试手段研究了(Zr₄₈Cu₄₄Al₈)_1-xYb_x(x.at%)合金的非晶形成能力及薄膜性能与稀土掺杂浓度的关系。结果表明：掺杂Yb原子浓度为9.37 at%时合金体系具有最强的非晶形成能力。随着稀土Yb溅射功率的增加,XRD低角度出现的预峰逐渐消失,膜层由单相Zr基非晶演变成双相非晶,特别是当功率大于50 W时XRD中出现新的非晶衍射峰,该衍射峰强度随功率增加而增强,因此获得单相Zr基非晶薄膜层的最佳掺杂功率为10 W,此时膜层中稀土元素均匀分布。同时,非晶薄膜表面粗糙度随Yb靶溅射功率增加出现极值点,30 W时薄膜对应的接触角为104.9°,呈现疏水性能。因此,稀土Yb掺杂对Zr基非晶形成能力和薄膜性能产生了显著影响。     

Thermal performance of sputtered Cu films containing insoluble Zr and Cr for advanced barrierless Cu metallization

Pure Cu films and Cu alloy films containing insoluble substances(Zr and Cr)were deposited on Si(100)substrates,in the presence of interfacial native suboxide(SiOx),by magnetron sputtering.Samples were vacuum annealed between 300℃and 500 ℃to investigate effects of Zr and Cr additions on the thermal performance of Cu films.After annealing,copper silicides were found in the Cu(Zr)films,while no detectable silicides were observed in Cu and Cu(Cr)films.Upon annealing,Zr accelerated the diffusion and reaction between the film and the substrate,and lowered the thermal stability of Cu(Zr)alloy films on Si substrates,which was ascribed to the‘purifying effect’of Zr on the Si substrates.Whereas,Cr prohibited the agglomeration of Cu films at 500℃and decreased the surface roughness.As a result,the diffusion of Cu in Si substrates for Cu(Cr)films was effectively inhibited.In contrast to the high resistivity of Cu(Zr)films,the final resistivity of about 2.76μΩ·cm was achieved for the Cu(Cr)film.These results indicate that Cu(Cr)films have higher thermal stability than Cu(Zr)films on Si substrates and are preferable in the advanced barrierless Cu metallization.     

Low-Temperature Nitriding of Nanocrystalline Stainless Steel and Its Effect on Improving Wear and Corrosion Resistance

In this study, an ultrafine-grained surface layer with the average grain size of about 10 nm was fabricated on a stainless steel plate by surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT). Plasma nitriding of the samples was carried out by a low-frequency pulse-excited plasma unit. Optical microscopy, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, micro-indentation, and pin-on-disk wear and corrosion experiments were performed for characterization before and after plasma nitriding. It is found that the pre-SMATed sample developed a nitrided layer twice as thick as that on the as-received sample under the same nitriding conditions (300 °C for 4 h), which can be mainly attributed to the fast diffusion of nitrogen along grain boundaries in the nanostructured layer induced by means of SMAT. Results showed that nitriding layers of the as-received and pre-SMATed samples up to 300 °C are dominated by S-phase (γ_N), but its peak intensity for the pre-SMATed sample is sharper than that of the as-received one. During 500 °C nitriding treatment, the nitrogen would react with Cr in the steel to form CrN precipitates, which would lead to the depletion of chromium in the solid solution phase of the nitrided layer. Furthermore, the nitrided layer of the pre-SMATed sample exhibited a high hardness, and an excellent wear and corrosion resistance.     

反应磁控溅射法高速低温沉积锐钛矿相TiO_2薄膜的结构与光学性能

采用诱导型耦合等离子体辅助直流磁控溅射法在石英玻璃片上反应沉积TiO₂薄膜, 通过X射线衍射(XRD)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)和紫外可见光谱(UV-Vis)对薄膜特性进行表征. 结果表明, 叠加诱导型耦合等离子体和局部富氧增加了等离子体的反应活性, 在金属溅射模式和低于 200 ℃的沉积条件下, 制备了高质量的锐钛矿相TiO₂薄膜; 该薄膜在550 nm处的折射率和消光系数分别为2.51 和7.8×10^-4.     

Microstructure and tribological properties of low-friction composite MoS2(Ti,W) coating on the oxygen hardened Ti-6Al-4V alloy

Duplex surface treatment, which combines the oxygen diffusion hardening with a deposition of low friction MoS₂(Ti,W) coating, was applied to improve the Ti-6Al-4V alloy load bearing capacity and tribological properties. The coating (3.1 μm thick) was deposited on the oxygen hardened alloy by magnetron sputtering. Microstructure characterisation was performed by scanning- and transmission electron microscopy methods, as well as X-ray diffractometry. The results of micro/nanostructural analyses performed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy showed that the coatings are composed of MoS₂ nanoclusters embedded in an amorphous matrix. Some Ti α, W, and Ti₂S nanocrystals were also found in the coating microstructure. The wear resistance and friction coefficient of the hardened oxygen, as well as the coated alloy, was investigated at room temperature (RT), 300 °C, and 350 °C. The presence of the MoS₂(Ti,W) coating decreases the friction coefficient from 0.85 for the oxygen hardened alloy to 0.15 (at RT) and 0.09 (at 300 °C and 350 °C) for the coated one. The coating essentially increases the wear resistance of the alloy at RT and 300 °C. It was found that the wear resistance of the coated alloy decreased significantly during the wear test performed at 350 °C.     

磁控溅射镀钛提高 AZ31 镁合金耐磨耐蚀性能的研究

目的提高AZ31镁合金的耐磨及耐腐蚀性能。方法采用磁控溅射技术对镁合金进行表面镀钛处理,用扫描电镜研究膜基界面形貌及界面成分,分析结合性能。通过摩擦磨损试验,对比分析镁合金基体和镀Ti膜样品的耐磨性能;通过Tafel极化曲线,对比分析镁合金基体和镀Ti膜样品的耐蚀性能。结果 Ti膜均匀致密,与镁合金基体结合良好。镁合金镀Ti膜后,摩擦系数和磨损失重率下降,腐蚀电位向正方向移动了430 m V,腐蚀电流密度从10.83 m A/cm2下降到2.62×10-7m A/cm2。结论磁控溅射镀Ti膜提高了AZ31镁合金的耐磨和耐蚀性能。     

Microstructural Investigation of CoCrFeMnNi High Entropy Alloy Oxynitride Films Prepared by Sputtering Using an Air Gas

Microstructural properties of as-grown and annealed CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy (HEA) oxynitride thin films were investigated. The CoCrFeMnNi HEA oxynitride thin film was grown by magnetron sputtering method using an air gas, and annealed under the argon plus air flow for 5 h at 800 °C. The as-grown film was homogeneous and uniform composed of nanometer-sized crystalline regions mixed with amorphous-like phase. The crystalline phase in the as-grown film was face centered cubic structure with the lattice constant of 0.4242 nm. Significant microstructural changes were observed after the annealing process. First, it was fully recrystallized and grain growth happened. Second, Ni-rich region was observed in nanometer-scale range. Third, phase change happened and it was determined to be Fe₃O₄ spinel structure with the lattice constant of 0.8326 nm. Hardness and Young’s modulus of the as-grown film were 4.1 and 150.5 GPa, while those were 9.4 and 156.4 GPa for the annealed film, respectively.     

Cr基过渡层对钛合金表面类金刚石薄膜摩擦学性能的影响

采用磁控溅射技术在钛合金(Ti6Al4V)表面制备Cr、Cr/Cr N和Cr/Cr N/Cr NC过渡层结构的类金刚石(DLC)薄膜。采用扫描电子显微镜、拉曼光谱仪与原子力显微镜分析薄膜的结构和表面形貌,利用纳米压痕仪、薄膜内应力测试仪、划痕测试仪、摩擦试验机和二维轮廓仪研究薄膜的硬度、内应力、结合力和摩擦磨损性能。结果表明:随着Cr基梯度过渡层的引入,DLC薄膜的内应力逐渐下降,结合力逐渐上升。Cr/Cr N/Cr NC/DLC薄膜具有优异减摩抗磨性能,摩擦因数和磨损率低至0.09±0.02和(1.89±0.15)×10-7 mm3/N·m。试验结果对钛合金表面高性能DLC薄膜制备及应用具有一定的参考价值和指导意义。     

C17200铍铜合金表面等离子制备Ta涂层的组织及耐腐蚀性能

用双层辉光等离子渗金属技术在C17200铍铜合金表面制备Ta涂层,以提高其抗腐蚀性能。用X射线衍射仪、扫描电子显微镜、划痕仪等分别研究Ta涂层组织结构、成分以及与基体的结合强度,并用三电极体系测量C17200合金及其制备Ta涂层后的腐蚀性能。研究表明,保温0.5~3 h后,在C17200表面形成表面Ta沉积层/Ta-Cu-Be过渡层的复合Ta涂层,该复合涂层由Ta、Ta₂Be、Cu （Be）等相组成。涂层由岛状组织融合生长,Ta涂层随保温时间的延长而增厚。保温2 h的Ta涂层表面平整致密,与基体结合良好,在10% H₂SO₄溶液中较未处理C17200基材的自腐蚀电位升高,自腐蚀电流下降,腐蚀速率降低,表现出良好的耐蚀性能,有效地保护铍铜基体不受腐蚀液侵蚀。     

Wear and corrosion properties of plasma-based low-energy nitrogen ion implanted titanium

Plasma-based low-energy nitrogen ion implantation, including plasma source ion nitriding/carburizing and plasma source low-energy ion enhanced deposition, has emerged as a low-temperature surface engineering technique for metal and alloy. In this paper, the pure metal Ti samples have been modified by the plasma source ion nitriding process at a process temperature of 700 °C for a processing time of 4 h. The nitrided Ti surfaces were constructed of a continuous and dense Ti₂N compound layer about 2 μm thick and a 7-8 μm diffused layer. During tribological test on a ball on disk tribometer against the Si₃N₄ ceramic counterface, a low friction coefficient of about 0.3 and the faint wear volume were obtained for the nitrided Ti samples. The cyclic polarization curves of the nitrided Ti samples in 3.5% and 6.0% NaCl solutions showed that the improved pitting corrosion resistance with an increase of corrosion potential and a decrease of passive current, compared with that of the unnitrided Ti sample. The plasma source ion nitriding of the Ti samples provided the engineering surfaces for the functional applications with the combined improvement in wear and corrosion resistance.     

Ti13Nb13Zr 合金离子氮化层的摩擦磨损性能研究

目的提高医用钛合金的耐磨损性能。方法应用等离子渗氮技术在Ti13Nb13Zr基材上制备改性层,并对改性层组织、成分及硬度进行测试。利用往复磨损试验机研究改性层在干摩擦条件下的摩擦磨损性能,并与未处理的基材进行对比。结果 Ti13Nb13Zr合金表面经渗氮后形成致密均匀的改性层,硬度高达1110HV0.025,改性层的磨损体积约为基材的1/23。结论等离子渗氮技术有效地改善了Ti13Nb13Zr合金的摩擦磨损性能。     

Thermo-electrochemical activation of Cu3Sn negative electrode for lithium-ion batteries

A Cu₃Sn film electrode (thickness = ca. 3 μm) is prepared by DC magnetron sputtering deposition of Sn on Cu substrate and subsequent annealing at 300 °C for 30 h. At 25 °C, this Cu-Sn binary intermetallic compound is inactive for lithiation, but becomes active at elevated temperatures due to facilitation of Cu-Sn bond cleavage for the conversion-type lithiation. The lithiated product at 120 °C is the most Li-rich Li-Sn alloy (Li₁₇Sn₄). Upon de-lithiation, the Cu-Sn intermetallics of different compositions are generated by the reaction between the metallic Sn that is restored from Li₁₇Sn₄ and the idling metallic Cu. The nature of the resulting intermetallics is dependent on the de-lithiation temperature: Cu₁₀Sn₃ at 120 °C and Cu₆Sn₅ at 25 °C. Only the latter is active for lithiation in the subsequent room-temperature cycling. That is, Cu₃Sn is thermo-electrochemically activated to be Cu₆Sn₅ by lithiation at 120 °C and subsequent de-lithiation at 25 °C. The higher lithiation activity observed with the more Sn-rich phase (Cu₆Sn₅) compared to the initial one (Cu₃Sn) has been accounted for by the higher equilibrium lithiation potential (thermodynamic consideration) and smaller number of Cu-Sn bonds to be broken (kinetic consideration).