Mechanical characterization of PVD titanium carbide coatings

Titanium carbide coatings were deposited on stainless steel (AISI 316) by using unbalanced magnetron sputtering. Different phys., chem. and mech. properties are achieved by varying process parameters such as bias voltage and acetylene flow. Chem. compn. is detd. by use of X-ray diffraction, X-ray photon spectroscopy and electron probe microanal. The microstructure is characterized with SEM. Simple mech. tests such as bulging and bending (both in tensile condition) are used to det. the crit. strain to failure of the coatings under various stress conditions. Residual stresses were measured with the thin foil method. All these properties are presented for the varied process parameters as well as for the different chem. comp