Patent · US Expired

Boron containing multilayer coatings and method of fabrication

US5670252A · kind A · utility

40Cited by
10References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 4, 1994
Grant dateSep 23, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 4, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/265
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Hard coatings are fabricated from multilayer boron/boron carbide, boron carbide/cubic boron nitride, and boron/boron nitride/boron carbide, and the fabrication thereof involves magnetron sputtering in a selected atmosphere. These hard coatings may be applied to tools and engine and other parts, as well to reduce wear on tribological surfaces and electronic devices. These boron coatings contain no morphological growth features. For example, the boron and boron carbide used in forming the multilayers are formed in an inert (e.g. argon) atmosphere, while the cubic boron nitride is formed in a reactive (e.g. nitrogen) atmosphere. The multilayer boron/boron carbide, and boron carbide/cubic boron nitride is produced by depositing alternate layers of boron, cubic boron nitride or boron carbide, with the alternate layers having a thickness of 1 nanometer to 1 micrometer, and at least the interfaces of the layers may be of a discrete or a blended or graded composition.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.