The Influence of Sputter Cleaning Regimes on Interface Chemistry, Structure and Coating Cracking Response of MS-PVD coatings.

This presentation investigates the influence of argon sputter-cleaning conditions on the interface chemistry, structure, adhesion, and cracking behaviour of magnetron sputter physical vapour deposited (MS-PVD) chromium coatings. High-resolution SEM-BSE imaging and STEM-EDS analysis showed that omitting sputter cleaning led to poor adhesion associated with a native oxide layer and hydrocarbon contamination. All argon sputter-cleaning conditions produced interfacial argon nanobubbles, while implantation depth showed little variation between regimes. Bubble size and peak argon concentration increased and reached a plateau after approximately 30 minutes of cleaning. Mechanical cracking behaviour was found to be complex and influenced by both cleaning conditions and surface features. The work highlights the importance of surface preparation for coating adhesion and provides insight into the relationship between sputter cleaning, interfacial structure, and coating damage evolution in chromium-coated zirconium alloy systems.