Research on CrN-based Ternary Films Deposited by magnetron sputtering

Different Mo content of ternary Cr-Mo-N films were deposited on steel substrates using closed-field unbalanced magnetron sputtering technique using Cr target and Mo target in N-2/Ar gaseous mixture. The composition, structure, surface morphology and valence states of ternary CrMoN films were tested by EDS, XRD, SEM and XPS respectively. The experimental results showed that the preferential growth orientation of CrMoN films was changed from CrN (220) to (200) after the addition of Mo element. The diffraction peak shifted leftwards as a function of Mo content, The synthesized CrMoN coatings formed a substitutional solid solution of (Cr,Mo)N where larger Mo atoms replaced Cr in CrN crystal. The mechanical property experiments were carried out on the nanotest 600 hardness-testing device. The hardness of CrMoN films enhanced for the synergistic effect of CrN and MoN hard phases.