Novel Synthesis and Fabrication of Hybrid Coatings for Manufacturing Applications

硬质和耐磨涂层是美国和世界经济的重要组成部分;例如，机床是全球每年150亿美元的产业。 该研究计划的重点是制备基于混合非晶/纳米晶的超硬涂层（例如，Si 3 N4/TiN复合涂层）的制造应用的离子辅助脉冲激光沉积方法相。 将添加润滑剂以降低摩擦系数。 该研究旨在阐明对纳米结构涂层中控制加工结构和微观机械关系的机制的理解，从而展示通过工程界面和表面改性改善机械性能的途径。 最先进的分析技术将用于评估结构和机械性能。 上述结果将与涂层表面的机械和摩擦学性能有关，例如：临界载荷、弹性模量以及在干燥和润滑气氛中与各种配合面的摩擦和磨损行为。主要研究者还将邀请当地一名高中教师和学生参与与研究相关的实验工作。通过这项外展活动，教师和学生将学习所涉及的科学原理的基础知识，以及学习与材料薄膜加工有关的不同实验工具。 将努力与工业界合作以实现研究目标。 该项目的成果将通过在区域和国家会议上的介绍加以传播，并在期刊上发表。

Hard and wear-resistant coatings are an important segment in the US and world economy; for instance, machine tools are a $15 billion per year industry worldwide. The focus of this research program is to fabricate ultrahard coatings based on mixed amorphous/nanocrystalline (e.g., Si3N4/TiN composite coatings) phased by ion assisted pulsed laser deposition method for manufacturing applications. A lubricant will be added to reduce the friction coefficient. The research aims to elucidate the understanding of the mechanisms controlling processing structural and micro-mechanical relationships in nanostructured coatings and thereby demonstrate routes for improved mechanical properties with engineered interface and surface modification. The state-of-the-art analytical techniques will be used to evaluate the structural and mechanical properties. The above results will be related to the mechanical and tribological properties of the coated surface, such as: critical load, elastic modulus, and friction and wear behavior against a variety of counterfaces in dry and lubricated atmospheres. The principal investigator will also involve a local high school teacher and student into the experimental works related to the research. Through this outreach activities, both the teacher and student will learn the fundamentals of the scientific principles involved as well as learning the different experimental tools related to thin film processing of materials. The efforts will be made to work with industry to achieve the objectives of the research. Results of the project will be disseminated by presentations in regional and national conferences, and published in journals.