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Microstructure and mechanical properties of chromium oxide coatings

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Abstract

Chromium oxide coatings were deposited on low-carbon steel by radiofrequency reactive magnetron sputtering at different oxygen flux values. X-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate the microstructure of chromium oxide coatings. Varying oxygen flux changed the coating microstructure; as with increasing oxygen flux the chromium oxide coating undergoes amorphous-to-crystalline transformation. The coating developed strong (300) texture at higher oxygen flux. Hardness, elastic modulus, wear resistance, and adhesion were investigated by nanoindentation and pin-on-disk tests. With changes in the coating microstructure as a function of increased oxygen flux, hardness, elastic modulus, and wear resistance were improved, but its adhesion was weakened.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 50471091). Xiaolu Pang would like to acknowledge the support from the State Scholarship Fund of China (No. 20063037). Alex Volinsky would like to acknowledge the support from the National Science Foundation (CMMI-0600266, CMMI-0631526, and CMMI-0600231). We acknowledge help from Huisheng Yang, Yanbin Wang, and Lijie Qiao with sample preparation and mechanical testing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Xiaolu Pang & Kewei Gao

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 33620, USA

    Xiaolu Pang & Alex A. Volinsky

Authors
  1. Xiaolu Pang
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  2. Kewei Gao
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  3. Alex A. Volinsky
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Correspondence to Kewei Gao.

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Pang, X., Gao, K. & Volinsky, A.A. Microstructure and mechanical properties of chromium oxide coatings. Journal of Materials Research 22, 3531–3537 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2007.0445

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2007.0445

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