Deposition and characterization of compositional gradient CrNx coatings prepared by arc ion plating

Compositional gradient CrNx coatings were fabricated using arc ion plating in Ar/$N_2$ gaseous mixture by gradually increasing $N_2$ flux rate from 0 to 120 SCCM. The effect of negative substrate bias on the film microstructure and mechanical properties were systematically investigated with XRD, GDOES, and SEM. The results show that substrate bias has an important influence on film growth and microstructure of gradient CrNx coatings. The coatings mainly crystallized in the mixture of hexagonal $Cr_{2}N$ and fcc CrN phases. By increasing substrate bias, film microstructure evolved from an apparent columnar structure to an equiaxed one. With increasing substrate bias, deposition rate first increased, and then decreased. The maximum of deposition rate was 15 nm/min obtained at a bias of -50V.