Output details

C/CrC nanocomposite coating deposited by magnetron sputtering at high ion irradiation conditions

Coatings that provide both good wear resistance and low friction at high temperature require novel microstructural design. This work reports an entirely new structure, comprising nanoscale carbon clusters in a hard chromium carbide matrix, with a hitherto unseen multilayer structure. It is the first use of aberration corrected microscopy to provide completely new insight into the atomic scale film growth mechanisms that produce this multiscale structure. This has inspired further coating development, resulting in a further significant reduction in friction. Once developed, these coatings have significant commercial potential for dry machining operations, with reduced environmental damage.