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Oxidation of Ni-toughened nc-TiN/a-SiNx nanocomposite thin films

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2011

Sam Zhang ,
Deen Sun  and
Xianting Zeng
Sam Zhang*
Affiliation:
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798
Deen Sun
Affiliation:
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798
Xianting Zeng
Affiliation:
Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, Singapore 638075
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author.e-mail: msyzhang@ntu.edu.sg This author was an editor of this journal during the review and decision stage. For the JMR policy on review and publication of manuscripts authored by editors, please refer to http://www.mrs.org/publications/jmr/policy.html.
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Abstract

Oxidation behavior of Ni-toughened reactively sputtered composite thin films of nanocrystalline TiN and amorphous SiNx [denoted as nc-TiN/a-SiNx(Ni)] was explored to understand the oxidation mechanism. The films were deposited on silicon substrate using a magnetron sputtering technique. Oxidation was carried out from 450 °C up to 1000 °C. The nature of the oxidation was determined using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The microstructure of the oxidized films was studied using grazing incidence x-ray diffraction. The topography was characterized using atomic force microscopy. It was determined that the oxidation of the nc-TiN/a-SiNx(Ni) thin film proceeds primarily through a diffusion process, in which nickel atoms diffuse outward and oxygen ions inward. The oxidation takes place by progressive replacement of nitrogen with diffused oxygen. Five regions were identified in the oxidized layer from surface into the film. For films doped with 2.1 at.% Ni, a threshold temperature of 850 °C was determined, below which, excellent oxidation resistance prevails but above which, oxidation takes place at exponential rate, accompanied by abrupt increase of surface roughness.

Keywords

OxidationPhysical vapor deposition (PVD)Thin film
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 20 , Issue 10 , October 2005 , pp. 2754 - 2762
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

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