Effect of Sputtering Parameters on Ta Coatings for Gun Bore Applications
Tantalum offers a number of attractive properties for gun bore coating applications, including a high melting temperature, high ductility, and an environmentally friendly deposition method. However, vapor-deposited tantalum can appear in both the characteristic bcc phase found in the bulk material, and in a very brittle and less desirable "beta" phase. Presence of the beta phase in bore coatings is considered undesirable because of its brittleness and resulting failure as the coating is stressed. A high-rate triode sputtering system with a cylindrical coating geometry was used to produce thick tantalum coatings on 4340 steel smooth bore cylindrical substrates. A systematic series of tests were performed to evaluate the effects of sputtering gas species (Ar, Kr, Xe) and substrate temperature (100-300?C) during deposition on the phase and microstructure of the coatings. Heavier sputtering gases and higher substrate temperatures were found to promote the formation of bcc-phase tantalum coatings. Use of a movable target assembly was shown to promote the production of dense, single-phase tantalum coatings.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 952407
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-32709; 4015DP100; TRN: US200913%%555
- Journal Information:
- Surface & Coatings Technology, 133:411-416, Vol. 133; ISSN 0257-8972
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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