Effect of Al contents on the microstructure and cavitation erosion resistance of TiSiN/NiTiAl_xCrCoN nanomultilayer films

Abstract The TiSiN/NiTiAl x CrCoN nanomultilayer films were grown on 304 stainless steels through magnetron sputtering system. The microstructure and cross-sectional and surface images, mechanical and cavitation erosion properties of the prepared films were explored in detail. The results of the study reveal that all TiSiN/NiTiAl x CrCoN nanomultilayer films exhibit a face-centered cubic structure with a preferential orientation in (200) plane. The cross-sectional images of films show the columnar structure. The values of elastic modulus, hardness, and adhesive strength for the TiSiN/NiTiAl x CrCoN nanomultilayer films initially increase and later decrease as the Al content is increased, whereas the mass loss for the TiSiN/NiTiAl x CrCoN nanomultilayer films initially decrease and later increase during the cavitation erosion experiment. The TiSiN/NiTiAl 0.8 CrCoN nanomultilayer film provides a maximum hardness value equal to 31.3 GPa, a maximum elastic modulus equal to 218.9 GPa, a highest adhesive strength equal to 38.8 N and a least mass loss equal to 0.8 mg. The study showed that the solid solution strength and the alternating stress field enhance the properties of the TiSiN/NiTiAl x CrCoN nanomultilayer films.