Microhardness and adhesion of the Cr-N and V-N coatings fabricated with use of ion beam-assisted technology

Investigations of microhardness and adhesion characteristics of nanocrystalline Cr-N and V-N coatings, which were deposited under stimulative conditions of nitrogen-ion bombardment with energy of 30 keV, are performed. As shown, the ion irradiation during the deposition stimulates the coating-adhesion increasing. As revealed, the preliminary nitrogen-ions' implantation into the substrate up to the high doses increases additionally the adhesion of coating with substrate. As a result of intensive mixing of coating with softer substrates during beam-assisted deposition, the hardness of nitride coating is decreased. Nevertheless, the hardness of this coating is more then for Cr-N and V-N coatings, which were obtained by using the powder technologies.