Variable hardness nanocomposite coating
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorsJianliang Lin, Peter Mark Lee, Lake Speed, Jr.
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Abstract
A variable hardness nanocomposite coating and method for its production. The variable hardness nanocomposite coating can be applied as a single layer on metallic engine components that require a break-in to achieve physical mating of interacting surfaces thereby reducing friction and optimizing engine performance. The single layer nanocomposite coating has a relatively higher carbon content and lower hardness at the surface region and a relatively lower carbon content and relatively higher hardness region as one proceeds towards a surface of the metal component being coated.
Claims12
A method of coating a metal part for an engine with a magnetron sputtering system having a process chamber including a magnetron and a Ti target comprising:
- placing said metal part having a surface into said process chamber;
- reducing gas pressure in said chamber;
- supplying an inert gas to said process chamber and generating a plasma for said inert gas;
- supplying nitrogen to said process chamber;
- supplying both a gas containing carbon and silicon and a carbon containing gas to said process chamber;
- sputtering titanium from a magnetron target in said process chamber;
- depositing only a single continuous layer of Ti—Si—C—N coating on said metal part surface at a thickness in the range of 5.0 μm to 40 μm including a carbon amorphous phase, wherein an exposed surface region of said coating has a hardness that increases from said coating surface region down to said surface of said metal substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.