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Scratch Deformation Response of Thin Cnx Coatings at Ultra-Low Loads

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

S. V. Hainsworth
Affiliation:
Now at: Department of Engineering, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE 1 7RH, UK.
S. J. Bull
Affiliation:
Materials Division, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NEI 7RU, UK.
T. F. Page
Affiliation:
Materials Division, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NEI 7RU, UK.
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Abstract

The scratch test is often used for assessing the properties of coated systems since it readily allows the differing dominance of various deformation mechanisms - and the friction response - to be measured as a function of contact severity. Further, the scratch test can be used to determine a critical load at which failure of the coating-substrate interface occurs and thus give a semiquantitative measure of the adhesion of the coating. Usually, micro- and macro-scratch tests arc performed in the load range between 0.05N to 100N but here, to explore the response of a much thinner coating (300nm of CNX on silicon), we report on scratches made with loads between I and 20rnN. We have found a load dependent transition in the scratch and friction responses. Below 4mN, the scratches exhibited a completely elastic response with no evidence of failure. At 5mN, the scratches showed some completely elastic areas and some areas that were typical of a buckle failure of the coating and at the same tirne, the coefficient of friction rose from ˜0.1 to ˜0.5. Above 5mN, the scratches showed a continuous plastic groove and buckle-type failure. We discuss these results in relation to the scratch response and tribology of ultra-thin films.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1998

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