Influence of high-voltage constant potential bias on structure and properties of MoN/CrN multilayer composite with different layer thickness

Influence of high-voltage constant potential bias, pressure of nitrogen atmosphere, and thickness of layers on the phase and elemental composition, structure and mechanical properties of the composite multilayer coatings CrN/MoN, which were prepared by the nitrogen vacuum-arc evaporation in atmosphere, was studied. It was determined that when the layer thickness is reduced from 200 to 15 nm at almost invariable phase the structural hardness decreases from 34 GPa to 13 GPa what may be accounted for increase of the specific contribution of nonequilibrium at boundaries. When the layers thickness is smaller, e.g. of about 5 nm, the hardness increases, and adhesion strength reaches (187.17 H) of the coating destruction critical point. Some possible mechanisms of the fixed increase of the coating mechanical properties are considered