Crystallization kinetics of amorphous Cr2AlC thin films

Amorphous Cr2AlC thin films were produced by room temperature magnetron sputtering on NaCl substrates with subsequent dissolution of the NaCl. The crystallization kinetics of Cr2AlC was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Two exothermal reactions are observed during DSC up to 1200 °C. Comparing lattice parameters obtained from XRD and ab initio calculations it is suggested that the first reaction is associated with the formation of hexagonal (Cr,Al)2Cx, while after the second reaction Cr2AlC is formed. The activation energy for the phase transformations are 426 and 762 kJ/mol, respectively.