AVS 63rd International Symposium & Exhibition
    Advanced Surface Engineering Wednesday Sessions
       Session SE+TR-WeM

Paper SE+TR-WeM1
Correlative Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of the Formation of AlYB14 and Competing Phases

Wednesday, November 9, 2016, 8:00 am, Room 101C

Session: Protective Coatings for Tribological Applications in Surface Engineering
Presenter: Oliver Hunold, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
Authors: O. Hunold, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
Y.T. Chen, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
D. Music, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
P.O.A. Persson, Linköping University, Sweden
D. Primetzhofer, Uppsala University, Sweden
M. to Baben, GTT-Technologies
J. Achenbach, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
P. Keuter, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
J.M. Schneider, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
Correspondent: Click to Email

The phase formation in the boron rich section of the Al-Y-B system has been explored by a correlative theoretical and experimental research approach. The structure of coatings deposited via high power pulsed magnetron sputtering from a compound target was studied using elastic recoil detection analysis, electron energy loss spectroscopy spectrum imaging, as well as X-ray and electron diffraction data. The formation of AlYB14 together with the (Y,Al)B6 impurity phase, containing 1.8 at. % less B than AlYB14, was observed at a growth temperature of 800 °C and hence 600 °C below the bulk synthesis temperature. Based on quantum mechanical calculations we infer that minute compositional variations within the film may be responsible for the formation of both icosahedrally bonded AlYB14 and cubic (Y,Al)B6 phases. These findings are relevant for synthesis attempts of all boron rich icosahedrally bonded compounds with the space group: Imma that form ternary phases at similar compositions.