EVALUATION OF THE APPLICABILITY OF IONIC MODIFICATION TO ENHANCE THE RESISTANCE TO EXTERNAL INFLUENCES OF MULTILAYER COATINGS

The key aim of the presented research results is to determine the effect of ionic modification on enhancement of the resistance of multilayer coatings to external influences, including high-temperature oxidation, exposure to aggressive environments and mechanical loads. The method of irradiation with low-energy N⁺, C⁺, O⁺ ions with energies of 40 keV and fluences of 10¹³, 10¹⁴ and 10¹⁵ cm⁻² was chosen as the ion modification method. The choice of these ions is based on the similarity of their masses, alongside the possibility of their acceleration with the same energy, which makes it possible to exclude the energy factor during the modification efficiency assessment. During the studies conducted it was established that the strengthening effect observed during irradiation with low-energy ions has a direct dependence on the irradiation fluence, the variation of which leads to the formation of a higher density of structural defects in the damaged layer, and is also practically independent of the type of ions used for modification. Moreover, it has been established that the maximum hardening effect is achieved at irradiation fluences of 10¹⁵ cm⁻², at which the hardening of the near-surface layer is about 10–15% compared to unmodified coatings. The results of the assessment of the efficiency of resistance to external mechanical influences, in particular, to friction, showed that the formation of a deformation layer due to ionic modification leads to an increase in resistance to wear during friction, as well as an increase in the stability of the coating surface to degradation processes. Tests of thermal barrier properties of coatings have shown that the use of the ion modification method leads to an increase in the thermal insulation properties of coatings by inhibiting heat transfer processes in the coatings.

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