The microstructure and tribological properties of ion beam assisted Cd-O and Ti-O coatings

Abstract The microstructural and tribological properties of Cd-O and Ti-O films obtained by ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) technique were studied. The IBAD process involved direct electron (e) beam evaporation of CdO and TiO 2 while simultaneously bombarding with 500 eV O 2 + ions. Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to determine the composition and microstructure of the films. A pin-on-disc tribotester was employed to determine the friction and wear characteristics of selected coatings. Ti-O films, with and without ion beams, were found to be amorphous while Cd-O films were polycrystalline under similar conditions. The oxygen-to-metal ratios in Ti-O and Cd-O films were ∼ 2.2 and ∼ 0.79, respectively. A reduction in friction and wear of M50 steel coated with ion beam assisted Ti-O film was observed. Ion beam assisted Cd-O film on M50 showed high friction at room temperature but lower friction at 400° C.