Alumina, aluminium nitride and aluminium composite coating on 0.45% C steel by using a plasma source ion implantation and deposition (PSII&D) system

Al2O3, AlN and Al composite coating was synthesized on 0.45% C steel sample to improve its corrosion resistance ability by using a plasma sourer ion i mplantation and deposition (PSII&D) system. The PSII&D is an extension of P SII by the combination of steady-state gas plasma and pulsed metal plasma. The gas plasma is produced by magnetic multipole filament discharge (or glo w discharge) and the metal plasma is produced by pulsed cathodic are discha rge. The electrochemical corrosion test of the coating shows that the corro sion resistance ability of the coated 0.45% C steel sample was greatly impr oved. The microstructure. surface compositions, depth profile, bonding envi ronment and morphology of the coating were investigated by X-ray diffractio n (XRD), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscop y (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the coating is formed by Al2O3, AIN and Al. The improvement in corrosion resistance ab ility of 0.45% C steel is due to the formation of the composite coating. (C ) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.