The effects of constrained atomic partitioning among FCC and BCC phases on nitrogen absorption in films that are reactively magnetron-sputtered from an 316L target

• Published in: Materials letters 2017-11, Vol.206, p.34-38
• Main Authors: Garzón, Carlos M., Vergara, Giovanny A., Recco, Abel A.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atomic structure; Austenitic stainless steels; Body centered cubic lattice; Duplex stainless steels; Experiments; Face centered cubic lattice; Film structure; Flow velocity; Magnetron sputtering; Materials science; Nitrogen; Partitioning; Phase stability; Protective coatings; Stainless steel; Stainless steels; Steel structures
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2017.06.074

[Display omitted] •Sputtering conditions affect the relationship between N2 flux and phase fractions.•FCC N-content in duplex structure ranges between 3 and 9at.%.•An equilibrium with constrained atomic partitioning of metallic atoms is proposed.•Structures observed are in agreement with constrained atomic partitioning.•FCC N-content agrees with sputtering-enhanced energy analysis. In this study, we report on phase fractions and nitrogen distribution among structure components of stainless steel films that are sputter-deposited from an 316L target under Ar+N2 atmospheres. As N2 flow rate was increased were obtained samples with the following structures: BCC (N-lean), BCC plus FCC (between 2.0 and 6.0Nat.%), and fully FCC (11.5Nat.% and higher N-contents). Experiments under two different sets of deposition conditions were carried out, where the actual relationship between phase fractions and N2 flow rate showed differences among the two experimental sets of samples. N-content in the FCC phase in duplex structures varied between 3 and 9at.%. An equilibrium with constrained atomic partitioning of substitutional species and full atomic partitioning of nitrogen was proposed, with the aim of depicting the structures observed.