Tribological properties of ternary BCN films with controlled composition and bonding structure

• Published in: Diamond and related materials Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 1532 - 1537
• Main Authors: Caretti, I., Jiménez, I., Gago, R., Cáceres, D., Abendroth, B., Albella, J.M.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.04.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: BCN; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Ion and electron beam-assisted deposition; ion plating; Ion assisted deposition; Materials science; Mechanical and acoustical properties of condensed matter; Mechanical properties of solids; Methods of deposition of films and coatings; film growth and epitaxy; Physics; Pin on disk; Tribology and hardness; XANES; Ion assisted deposition; BCN; Pin on disk; XANES; Amorphous material; Stoichiometry; Ion beam assisted deposition method; Coatings; Thin films; Carbon nitrides; Chemical composition; Wear resistance; Elastic modulus; Boron nitrides; Ternary compounds; Crystallization; Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy; Evaporation; Hardness; Experimental study; Growth from vapor; Hexagonal lattices; Diamond lattices; Friction; Tribology
• ISSN: 0925-9635; 1879-0062
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diamond.2003.09.011

In this work we study the mechanical and tribological properties (hardness, elastic modulus, friction and wear) of BCN coatings with controlled composition and structure. We have considered films of BC x N stoichiometry with different carbon content, and a hexagonal-like structure. The films were grown at room temperature using simultaneous evaporation from two separated boron and carbon sources, assisted by concurrent nitrogen ions. Several techniques were used to assess the composition and bonding structure of the films, including energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray absorption (XANES) and infrared (IR) spectroscopies. Although the prevalent structure is hexagonal-like, for large carbon contents the films become more amorphous with a diamond-like structure revealed by the decrease of the density of π* states. The diamond-like BC x N films with large carbon content show good mechanical properties and wear resistance.