3 research outputs found
A novel wear-resistant magnetic thin film material based on a nanocomposite alloy
In this study we report on the film growth and characterization of thin
(approximately 50 nm thick) Ti-Fe-C films deposited on amorphous quartz. The
experimental studies have been complemented by first principles density
functional theory (DFT) calculations. Upon annealing of as-prepared films, the
composition of the metastable Ti-Fe-C film changes. An iron-rich phase is first
formed close to the film surface, but with increasing annealing time this phase
is gradually displaced toward the film-substrate interface where its position
stabilizes. Both the magnetic ordering temperature and the saturation
magnetization changes significantly upon annealing. The DFT calculations show
that the critical temperature and the magnetic moment both increase with
increasing Fe and C-vacancy concentration. The formation of the metastable
iron-rich Ti-Fe-C compound is reflected in the strong increase of the magnetic
ordering temperature. Eventually, after enough annealing time (
minutes), nano-crystalline -Fe starts to precipitate and the amount and
size of these precipitates can be controlled by the annealing procedure; after
20 minutes of annealing, the experimental results indicate a nano-crystalline
iron-film embedded in a wear resistant TiC compound. This conclusion is further
supported by transmission electron microscopy studies on epitaxial Ti-Fe-C
films deposited on single crystalline MgO substrates where, upon annealing, an
iron film embedded in TiC is formed. Our results suggest that annealing of
metastable Ti-Fe-C films can be used as an efficient way of creating a
wear-resistant magnetic thin film material.Comment: 23 pages, 13 figure
Carbon release by selective alloying of transition metal carbides
We have performed first principles density functional theory calculations on
TiC alloyed on the Ti sublattice with 3d transition metals ranging from Sc to
Zn. The theory is accompanied with experimental investigations, both as regards
materials synthesis as well as characterization. Our results show that by
dissolving a metal with a weak ability to form carbides, the stability of the
alloy is lowered and a driving force for the release of carbon from the carbide
is created. During thin film growth of a metal carbide this effect will favor
the formation of a nanocomposite with carbide grains in a carbon matrix. The
choice of alloying elements as well as their concentrations will affect the
relative amount of carbon in the carbide and in the carbon matrix. This can be
used to design the structure of nanocomposites and their physical and chemical
properties. One example of applications is as low-friction coatings. Of the
materials studied, we suggest the late 3d transition metals as the most
promising elements for this phenomenon, at least when alloying with TiC.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure