Study by optical emission spectroscopy of a physical vapour deposition process for the synthesis of complex AlCuFe(B) coatings

• Published in: Surface & coatings technology Vol. 205; no. 1; pp. 9 - 14
• Main Authors: Duguet, T., Fournée, V., Dubois, J.M., Belmonte, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 25.09.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adhesion; Aluminum; Applied sciences; Coatings; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Metals. Metallurgy; Monitors; Optical emission spectroscopy; Phases; Physics; Production techniques; PVD; Quasicrystal; Sputtering; Surface treatment; Surface treatments; Synthesis; Thin films; Optical emission spectroscopy; Quasicrystal; PVD; Synthesis; Physical vapor deposition; Surface treatments; Quasicrystals; Coatings; Deposition process
• ISSN: 0257-8972; 1879-3347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2010.05.030

We investigate the formation of complex Al–Cu metallic phases by magnetron dc sputtering of elemental targets followed by low temperature annealing. We show that all stable low temperature phases of the Al–Cu system can be grown this way and suggest that some of these phases could be used as an interfacial layer to improve the adhesion of quasicrystalline AlCuFe coatings on metal substrate. Then we introduce optical emission spectroscopy as a tool to monitor the composition of thin films obtained by sputtering Al 63Cu 25Fe 12 and Al 59.5Cu 25.3Fe 12.2B 3 targets. This method should improve the synthesis of complex metallic alloy phases as new coating materials of industrial interest.