| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1664933 | Thin Solid Films | 2014 | 6 Pages |
•Moderate Nb addition improves the hardness and adhesion of Zr-Nb-N coatings.•Significant improvement of oxidation resistance is obtained by Nb addition.•GAXRD and TEM microstructural studies of the Zr-Nb-N coatings.•Phase stabilization of tetragonal-ZrO2 is achieved by Nb addition.
In this study, Zr-Nb-N coatings with 0–3.8 at.% Nb addition were deposited by magnetron co-sputtering deposition. The results reveal that Nb atoms substitute Zr atoms in Zr-N lattice, forming the solid solution structure. All the Zr-Nb-N coatings illustrate a dense columnar structure with the preferred orientation of (200), showing independent of Nb addition. Nanoindentation result reveals a promoted hardness of the Zr-Nb-N coatings from 23.9 ± 0.7 GPa to 28.4 ± 0.5 GPa with enhanced Nb content from 0 to 2.8 at.% due to both the solid solution strengthening and Hall–Petch effect. Scratch tests show that adhesion between substrates and coatings can be improved by Nb addition. After oxidation in air at 600 °C for 2 h, microstructural studies indicate the oxide scales consist of monoclinic-ZrO2 outer layer and tetragonal-ZrO2 inner layer. Moreover, ZrO2 can be stabilized in the tetragonal phase by Nb doping. The Zr-Nb-N coating with 1.3 at.% Nb addition exhibits superior oxidation resistance, while excess Nb addition produces detrimental effects on oxidation resistance.
