First-principles calculations and insight of microstructural effects on mechanical properties in the heterostructured (CrN/ZrN)/(Cr/Zr) nanocomposite coatings

Abstract

Coatings with desirable properties of adhesion, strength and high wear performance can be achieved by depositing multilayered structures of Me/MeN architecture. Recent investigations have shown that the combination of hard but brittle metal nitride layers with tough but relatively soft metallic layers in multilayered “sandwich” improves the performance of the composite material for many reasons.