Properties of Cr-N Films Prepared by the Arc-induced Ion Plating

Cr-N films were deposited on low-carbon steel sheets by the reactive arc-induced ion plating (AIIP). The influence of the deposition conditions (nitrogen pressure and substrate bias voltage) on the crystal orientation, morphology and microhardness of the Cr-N films has been investigated using x-ray diffractometer and scanning electron microscope. The impurities and contaminations on the surface and at the interface, and the layer-by-layer compositions of the film have been analyzed using scanning Auger multiprobe (SAM) and glow discharge spectroscope (GDS). The mixed state of Cr and Cr2N turned out to have a fine fibrous structure. The Cr2N films were deposited at a wide range of nitrogen flow rates. The orientations of Cr2N films were mainly (110) and (111), and the intensity of the (111) peak increased as the substrate bias voltage increased. The micorstructure of the Cr2N film was dense and no columnar structure was observed. The films in the mixed state of Cr2N and CrN were also dense without columnar structure. The maximum microhardness of the Cr-N films was 2400 kg/ at 10gf load.