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DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL LOW TEMPERATURE PVD TECHNIQUE OF CUBIC BORON NITRIDE FOR LONG LIFETIME PRODUCTS

Obiettivo


The project was successful with respect to the development of an unbalanced dc-magnetron coating technique for c-BN layers. Based on the experimental work on a dc magnetron device we transferred the c-BN deposition process an industrial sized ABS plant. Boron carbide was used as target material with a suitable electrical conductivity for dc sputtering. Considerable technical progress was done in the preparation and bonding of extended B4C targets. By use of the ubm sputter mode we prepared single phase c-BN layers on silicon, ceramic, hard metal and different steel substrates. The films showed excellent mechanical properties. The identification of the cubic phase was performed by IR-spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Sphere on tape measurements revealed a excellent wear resistance of the deposited layers.

ABS bonding led to a improved film adhesion, but it could be discovered within this work, that c-BN film delamination occurs within the BN film, possibly at the t-BN/h-BN interface. Additional research work has to be spent on this subject including ageing mechanism of c-BN films. However, application oriented tests as performed within this project, demonstrated the broad industrial potential of c-BN coatings.
The demand for super hard coatings deposited at low temperatures (T<200 C) is growing exponentially in broad areas of industrial applications, e.g. steel machining, magnetic tape recording and several others. The most promising candidate is cubic boron nitride (c-BN) because of its excellent mechanical properties, which are similar to that of diamond. The presently known cBN deposition processes are not industrially usable, since they are based on high deposition temperatures (>1500 C). Low temperature PVD processes investigated so far suffer from poor adhesion and film peeling.

The proposed project will address the technical problems. The focus is on the development of a novel cBN deposition process, which combines low temperature sputtering with an arc bonding technique. This approach has the potential for adjusting the growth of cubic over hexagonal BN, usually obtained during thin film deposition. The in-situ arc processing will lead to the fabrication of well-bonded cBN layers. Because of the high deposition rates of the proposed method, important economical benefits can be expected.

The major research tasks of this project are:

A. Basic investigations of a novel coating process at T < 200 C with respect to a better understanding of cBN growth and adhesion.

B. Developments of a low temperature process for well-bonded cBN coatings on 3-D parts.

C. Characterization of the mechanical properties.

D. Application oriented testing of cBN coatings on drills, cutting tools and different kinds of magnetic recording components.

The effective configuration of the collaborating team, covering an experienced equipment manufacturer, research institutes as well as companies with high market shares in the field of cutting tools and magnetic tape recorders, ensures that the pre competitive project will be application oriented. The selected test products are well suited for this task, since they are critical to wear. The results of this project offer great possibilities for new cBN equipment and cBN coated products. Successful completion should lead in time to an increase in market shares for the above mentioned products. In case of coated drills an increase of 30% is being expected.

Invito a presentare proposte

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Meccanismo di finanziamento

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinatore

FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT
Contributo UE
Nessun dato
Indirizzo
VOGT-KÖLLN-STRAßE 30
22527 HAMBURG
Germania

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Costo totale
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Partecipanti (4)