Microstructure Formation and Mechanical Properties of Metastable Titanium-Based Gradient Coating Fabricated via Intense Pulse Ion Beam Melt Mixing

Abstract

The unique flash heating characteristics of intense pulsed ion beams (IPIB) offer potential advantages to fabricate high-performance coatings with non-equilibrium structures. In this study, titanium-chromium (Ti-Cr) alloy coatings are prepared through magnetron sputtering and successive IPIB irradiation, and the feasibility of IPIB melt mixing (IPIBMM) for a film-substrate system is verified via finite elements analysis. The experimental results reveal that the melting depth is 1.15 μm under IPIB irradiation, which is in close agreement with the calculation value (1.18 μm). The film and substrate form a Ti-Cr alloy coating by IPIBMM. The coating has a continuous gradient composition distribution, metallurgically bonding on the Ti substrate via IPIBMM. Increasing the IPIB pulse number leads to more complete element mixing and the elimination of surface cracks and craters. Additionally, the IPIB irradiation induces the formation of supersaturated solid solutions, lattice transition, and preferred orientation change, contributing to an increase in hardness and a decrease in elastic modulus with continuous irradiation. Notably, the coating treated with 20 pulses demonstrates a remarkable hardness (4.8 GPa), more than twice that of pure Ti, and a lower elastic modulus (100.3 GPa), 20% less than that of pure Ti. The analysis of the load-displacement curves and H-E ratios indicates that the Ti-Cr alloy coated samples exhibit better plasticity and wear resistance compared to pure Ti. Specifically, the coating formed after 20 pulses exhibits exceptional wear resistance, as demonstrated by its H3/E2 value being 14 times higher than that of pure Ti. This development provides an efficient and eco-friendly method for designing robust-adhesion coatings with specific structures, which can be extended to various bi- or multi-element material systems.

Melting Thresholds of Materials Irradiated with a Wide Class of Pulsed Electron Beams

“…In this study, all of the above results concerning surface heat sources are true not only for PEBs, but also for other pulsed beams (laser, ion and plasma), if their parameters satisfy the γ 1 condition [49][50][51]. However, Formula ( 24) is not applicable in such cases, since the particle range is expressed not by Formula ( 12), but by another one corresponding to their type.…”

Structure and Wear Performance of a Titanium Alloy by Using Low-Temperature Plasma Oxy-Nitriding

“…Metals, including many kinds of composites, are greatly popular in modern industry [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Among them, titanium and its alloys are widely used in aircraft, aerospace, and marine equipment due to their light weight, high specific strength, and excellent corrosion resistance [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

Комплексная Электронно-Ионно-Плазменная Обработка Силумина

“…Для формирования в поверхностных слоях материалов неравновесных многофазных состояний, которые обеспечивают существенное улучшение эксплуатационных характеристик изделий, а порой их уникальные свойства, применяется комбинированная электронно-ионно-плазменная обработка материалов [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Она может включать азотирование поверхностного слоя (толщиной от единиц до сотен микрометров), осаждение тонкого (~0,1-1 мкм) твердого или сверхтвердого (≥40 ГПа) покрытия и воздействие на поверхность электронным пучком (выглаживание рельефа поверхности, миксинг системы покрытие/подложка, вплавление твердого покрытия в более легкоплавкую подложку) [7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”