Oxygen-driven shell-like microstructure: a pathway to high-performance PVD Cr coatings for metal protection

Abstract Chromium (Cr) coatings, known for their corrosion resistance and luster, often suffer from coarse columnar grains when fabricated by physical vapor deposition (PVD), limiting their performance. This study employs high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) with oxygen doping (8.3 at.%)...

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Main Authors: Meiqi Zhang, Li Wang, Zhenyu Wang, Yong Cheng, Guanshui Ma, Shiyao Tan, Peiling Ke, Aiying Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:npj Materials Degradation
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41529-025-00591-w
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author Meiqi Zhang
Li Wang
Zhenyu Wang
Yong Cheng
Guanshui Ma
Shiyao Tan
Peiling Ke
Aiying Wang
author_facet Meiqi Zhang
Li Wang
Zhenyu Wang
Yong Cheng
Guanshui Ma
Shiyao Tan
Peiling Ke
Aiying Wang
author_sort Meiqi Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Chromium (Cr) coatings, known for their corrosion resistance and luster, often suffer from coarse columnar grains when fabricated by physical vapor deposition (PVD), limiting their performance. This study employs high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) with oxygen doping (8.3 at.%) to enhance Cr coatings on 316 L stainless steel. The optimized coating exhibits a unique shell-like microstructure, increasing hardness by 55% and improving crack resistance. Oxygen doping also reduces corrosion current density by over an order of magnitude, forming a continuous, low-defect amorphous passivation film for superior corrosion protection. This approach offers a simple yet effective strategy to advance Cr coating performance for industrial applications.
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id doaj-art-71abe55fdc274ee5b0595ec3f4e9b33e
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issn 2397-2106
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Materials Degradation
spelling doaj-art-71abe55fdc274ee5b0595ec3f4e9b33e2025-08-20T03:07:56ZengNature Portfolionpj Materials Degradation2397-21062025-05-019111110.1038/s41529-025-00591-wOxygen-driven shell-like microstructure: a pathway to high-performance PVD Cr coatings for metal protectionMeiqi Zhang0Li Wang1Zhenyu Wang2Yong Cheng3Guanshui Ma4Shiyao Tan5Peiling Ke6Aiying Wang7State Key Laboratory of Advanced Marine Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Advanced Marine Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Advanced Marine Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Advanced Marine Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Advanced Marine Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Advanced Marine Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Advanced Marine Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Advanced Marine Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract Chromium (Cr) coatings, known for their corrosion resistance and luster, often suffer from coarse columnar grains when fabricated by physical vapor deposition (PVD), limiting their performance. This study employs high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) with oxygen doping (8.3 at.%) to enhance Cr coatings on 316 L stainless steel. The optimized coating exhibits a unique shell-like microstructure, increasing hardness by 55% and improving crack resistance. Oxygen doping also reduces corrosion current density by over an order of magnitude, forming a continuous, low-defect amorphous passivation film for superior corrosion protection. This approach offers a simple yet effective strategy to advance Cr coating performance for industrial applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41529-025-00591-w
spellingShingle Meiqi Zhang
Li Wang
Zhenyu Wang
Yong Cheng
Guanshui Ma
Shiyao Tan
Peiling Ke
Aiying Wang
Oxygen-driven shell-like microstructure: a pathway to high-performance PVD Cr coatings for metal protection
npj Materials Degradation
title Oxygen-driven shell-like microstructure: a pathway to high-performance PVD Cr coatings for metal protection
title_full Oxygen-driven shell-like microstructure: a pathway to high-performance PVD Cr coatings for metal protection
title_fullStr Oxygen-driven shell-like microstructure: a pathway to high-performance PVD Cr coatings for metal protection
title_full_unstemmed Oxygen-driven shell-like microstructure: a pathway to high-performance PVD Cr coatings for metal protection
title_short Oxygen-driven shell-like microstructure: a pathway to high-performance PVD Cr coatings for metal protection
title_sort oxygen driven shell like microstructure a pathway to high performance pvd cr coatings for metal protection
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41529-025-00591-w
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