Abstract
We report the comparative studies on structural, mechanical and corrosion properties of TiAlV/SiN, TiAlV/SiN/graphene and Ti/graphene/SiN coatings. The deposited silicon nitride thin film and silicon nitride/graphene coatings systems were crack free, exhibited good adherence to the substrate, no discontinuous of the thin films was observed and the surface morphology was homogeneous. The silicon nitride thin film deposited on graphene monolayer in graphene/silicon nitride coating system, was pilling off and had poor adhesion to the graphene surface. Graphene transferred on titanium alloy surface and silicon nitride thin film surface was a single layer without defects. The hardness of silicon nitride thin film was ca. 22.4 GPa, SiN/graphene coatings system was equal 23.0 GPa and graphene/SiN coatings system was equal 22.2 GPa, showing that graphene monolayer has no affect on surface hardness of silicon nitride thin film, but at the same time it causes the decrease in the electrochemical activity of the system. The best corrosion resistance has the sample Ti6Al4V coated with SiN/graphene coatings system. This sample retains the most stable mechanical and structural parameters during corrosion process. The SiN/graphene coatings system greatly improve the mechanical and corrosion properties of examined titanium alloy surface. [DOI: 10.1380/ejssnt.2015.289]
