Abstract
This work develops (AlCrTaTiZr)NC y multi-component coatings by co-sputtering of AlCrTaTiZr alloy and graphite in an Ar/N 2 mixed atmosphere with the application of different substrate biases. All the (AlCrTaTiZr)NC y coatings deposited in different conditions exhibited a simple face-centered cubic structure. As the applied substrate bias and graphite-target power increased, the (AlCrTaTiZr)NC y coatings transformed from a large columnar structure with a [111] preferred orientation to a dense, ultrafine nanocomposite structure. With increasing substrate bias and graphite-target power, the hardness, H/E ratio and H 3 /E 2 ratio of the coatings increased from 20 to 35GPa, from 0.07 to 0.12 and from 0.10 to 0.43GPa, respectively, attributed to the densification of the coatings, the refinement of grains, the introduction of covalent-like carbide bonds, the formation of nanocomposite structure and the existence of large lattice distortions. Because of the severe distortions in the multi-component coatings caused by the addition of differently-sized atoms, the deformation mechanism was dominated by the activity of low-angle dislocations and/or stacking faults. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.