Author(s)

Alexander D. Pogrebnjak, Oleksandr V. Bondar, Oleg V. Sobol, Vyacheslav M. Beresnev

Kharkov National University, Kharkov, Ukraine.
Kharkov National Technical University, Kharkov, Ukraine.
Sumy State University, R.-Korsakov, Sumy, Ukraine.

Using such unique methods of analysis as slow positron beam (SPB), RBS, μ-PIXE (proton microbeam), XRD, SEM with EDS, XPS, nanohardness and elastic modulus measurements, we studied superhard nanostructure Ti-Si-N coatings, which were deposited using Cathodic-PVD method, before and after annealing at the temperature of 600°C for 30 minutes. It is shown in the paper that redistribution of N and Si occurs on the borders of nanograins after annealing, amorphous phase α-SiN_x (Si₃N₄) is created, defects segregates on interfaces and forms vacancy-type clusters with rather high concentration from 5 × 10¹⁶ cm^-3 to 7.5 × 10¹⁷ cm^-3 due to thermodiffusion. Solid solution (Ti,Si)N and small concentration of α-SiN (close to XRD detection limits) are formed in the coating. Also it was obtained, that deflected mode is formed in the coating (compressive deformation equals to –2.6%), but after thermal annealing deformation reduces to a value of -2.3%. Size of nanograins of solid solution (Ti, Si)N increases from 12.5 nm to (13.2 ÷ 13.4) nm. 25 nm size grains increase their size to 28.5 nm after annealing (under another deposition regime).

Nanostructure; Wear; Nanohardness; Profiles of Defects; Ti-Si-N

Pogrebnjak, A. , Bondar, O. , Sobol, O. and Beresnev, V. (2013) Changing of Defect’s Structure and Properties of Superhard Nanostructured Ti-Si-N Coatings, Fabricated Using CPVD, before and after Annealing. Soft Nanoscience Letters, 3, 46-51. doi: 10.4236/snl.2013.33009.