AVS 49th International Symposium
    Surface Engineering Tuesday Sessions
       Session SE+NS-TuM

Paper SE+NS-TuM5
Characterization of TiCrN Nanocomposite Protective Coatings for Biomedical Applications

Tuesday, November 5, 2002, 9:40 am, Room C-111B

Session: Nanocomposite and Nanolayered Coatings
Presenter: S.M. Aouadi, Southern Illinois University
Authors: S.M. Aouadi, Southern Illinois University
K.-C. Wong, University of British Columbia, Canada
K.A.R. Mitchell, University of British Columbia, Canada
F. Namavar, Spire Corp.
E. Tobin, Spire Corp.
D.M. Mihut, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
S.L. Rohde, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Correspondent: Click to Email
The structural, chemical, optical, and mechanical properties of TiCrN nanocrystalline multiphase films deposited by ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) were studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), and nanoindentation. The primary phases in the films, their volume fractions, and the elemental compositions were determined from XRD and XPS measurements. The TiCrN films consisted of two phases, namely Ti-N and Cr, for nitrogen concentrations lower than titanium concentrations. For larger nitrogen concentrations, an additional phase (Cr2N) was identified. The topography of the various films was measured using AFM. The optical constants were measured using spectroscopic ellipsometry. A correlation between the elemental/phase composition and optical constants was established. The usefulness and limitations of effective medium theories (EMA) to model the optical constants of these nanocrystalline composite materials will be discussed. The mechanical properties of the coatings were evaluated using nanohardness testing. The hardness and elastic modulii were found to depend on the constituting phases and were measured to be 22-32 GPa and 180-260 GPa, respectively.