S. Groudeva-zotova et al., Phase composition of Cr-C thin films deposited by a double magnetron sputtering system, SURF INT AN, 30(1), 2000, pp. 544-548
Non-reactive d.c. magnetron sputtering by two magnetron sources with inclin
ed geometry was used for deposition of Cr-C thin films with C:Cr ratio in t
he range 0.08-2.40. The phase composition of the films was investigated by
x-ray diffraction, XPS, SEM and resistivity measurements. Four phase compos
itional regions were distinguished in the investigated large compositional
range: films containing mainly microcrystalline Cr or Cr-C solid solution;
films containing both the microcrystalline Cr phase and the stoichiometric
Cr23C6 carbide phase (beta-phase); amorphous-like films composed of the ult
radisperse Cr crystalline phase and different metastable carbides; and amor
phous films consisting of a carbon matrix with a limited amount of a high-c
arbon carbide phase dispersed in it, The films from the first two regions e
xhibit very high microhardness and good wear resistivity, and at the same t
ime a relatively low electrical resistivity, which make them promising coat
ing materials for electronic applications. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley &
Sons, Ltd.