Role of Nitrogen Pressure on the Structural and Mechanical Properties of ZrON Composite Films Deposited by Plasma Focus Device

Abstract

Polycrystalline zirconium oxy-nitride (P-ZrON) composite films are deposited on Zr substrates by plasma focus device. The focusing efficiency of plasma focus is maximum at 1.5 mbar nitrogen pressure (NP) due to more intense signal of high voltage probe. The P-ZrON composite films are deposited for 25 focus shots at different NP. The XRD patterns confirm the evolution of ZrN (111), Zr 3 N 4 (230), Zr 3 N 4 (320), Zr 3 N 4 (140), Zr 3 N 4 (340) and ZrO 2 (200) diffraction planes. The peak intensity of different diffraction planes and their broadening are associated with increasing NP. The (N ? O)/Zr atomic ratio's are found to be 0.78, 0.88, 1.31, 0.66 and 0.55 at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 mbar NP respectively. The variation in crystallite size of different planes and strain transformation observed in various planes are attributed to varying ion energy fluxes which are associated with the increase of NP. The lattice parameter of ZrN is found to be 0.461 nm at 0.5 mbar NP which is decreased to 0.457 nm at 1.5 mbar NP. The weight fractions of ZrN, Zr 3 N 4 and ZrO 2 phases deposited at 2.5, 2 and 1.5 mbar NP are found to 30.5, 28.5 and 41 % respectively. The SEM microstructures reveal that the size and shape of nano-particles and the formation of complicated network of nano-wires (diameter = * 55 nm) and nano-combs are associated with increasing NP. The AFM images show the maximum rms surface roughness of P-ZrON composite film when deposited at 1.5 mbar NP. The micro-hardness (8623 ± 0.95 MPa) of P-ZrON composite film deposited at 1.5 mbar NP is found to be four times the micro-hardness of virgin Zr.

Structure and Properties of ZrON Coatings Synthesized by Cathodic Arc Evaporation

“…The increase in concentration of oxygen in the coating ( Figure 6 ) changes: its structure ( Figure 7 ), the size of the crystallites and the lattice constant ( Figure 8 ) and texture ( Table 3 ). A higher value of the lattice constant is calculated, the strain (ε), [ 27 ], where d o is lattice constant observed and d s is lattice constant standard, ranges from about 0.6% for coatings synthesized at O 2(x) = 0% to 1.8% (O 2 (50) ). This may be due to stresses generated in the coating as a result of ion bombardment on its surface.…”

“…The analysis of the literature shows that the oxygen concentration in the coating affects its properties. ZrON coatings are the subject of many publications, but they focus mainly on the optical properties [ 6 , 13 , 19 , 24 , 26 ], structure and morphology of the coatings [ 1 , 11 , 13 , 17 , 19 , 22 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], some mechanical properties (hardness, Young’s modulus, stresses) [ 1 , 11 , 13 , 18 , 19 , 22 , 27 ] and electrochemical properties [ 1 ]. However, to the best of our knowledge, the adhesion tests of ZrON coatings were not carried out.…”

Synthesis of nickel nanowires (Ni-NWs) as high ferromagnetic material by electrodeposition technique

“…It worth noticing that the deposition rate is also associated with the increase of substrate surface transient temperature which affects the D values of synthesized films like Zirconia and ZrON. Different research groups have also reported that the structural parameters like micro-strains, stresses and defects are affected by the increase of substrate surface transient temperature [ 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Moreover, Labchir et al [ 31 ] have studied the Co and Ni nanowires synthesized by magneto-electrodeposition process and discussed their structural parameters.…”