TEM Investigations of (Ti, Si)N Layer Coated on Magnesium Alloy Using PVD Technique

Abstract

Thin films and coatings are applied to engineering materials in order to improve the mechanical properties of the surface, such as wear resistance, corrosion resistance and hardness. This research work deals with coatings deposited by appliance of the Physical Vapour Deposition method (PVD). The presented instigations concerning the production of coatings are one of the present important directions connected with modern surface engineering, ensuring the obtainment of coatings of high usable properties like mechanical characteristics and wear resistance. The general purpose of this work is investigation and evaluation of the obtained Ti/(Ti,Si)N/(Ti,Si)N coatings on magnesium cast alloys using electron microscope as the main investigation tool. The investigations were performed using scanning and transmission electron microscopy for the microstructure determination, also EDS microanalysis and electron diffraction was possible to obtain. While investigating the coating material, there were studied the transition zone between the coating and the substrate material as well the occurrence of some structure defects which can be present after the deposition process and could have any influence of the properties of the achieved coating. Also the structure character will be investigated for the occurrence of the nanostructure coatings, which could be seen as the solution of this issue. In the present work, the goal is set on current practices and future trends for nanocomposite thin films and coatings deposited by physical vapour deposition (PVD) technique. This investigation will touch some aspects of such coatings, but the main objective is to give a general view on features revealed using electron microscopy application in PVD coating investigations.