Thin-Film PVD Coating Metamaterials Exhibiting Similarities to Natural Processes under Extreme Tribological Conditions

This paper discusses the surface-engineered nanomaterials (adaptive nano-structured physical vapor deposition (PVD) thin-film coatings) that can effectively perform under severely non-equilibrium tribological conditions. The typical features of these nanomaterials are: (a) Dynamically interacting el...

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Main Authors: G. S. Fox-Rabinovich, I. S. Gershman, S. Veldhuis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
Series:Nanomaterials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/10/9/1720
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author G. S. Fox-Rabinovich
I. S. Gershman
S. Veldhuis
author_facet G. S. Fox-Rabinovich
I. S. Gershman
S. Veldhuis
author_sort G. S. Fox-Rabinovich
collection DOAJ
description This paper discusses the surface-engineered nanomaterials (adaptive nano-structured physical vapor deposition (PVD) thin-film coatings) that can effectively perform under severely non-equilibrium tribological conditions. The typical features of these nanomaterials are: (a) Dynamically interacting elements present in sufficient amounts to account for its compositional/structural complexity; (b) an initial non-equilibrium state; (c) optimized micro-mechanical characteristics, and (d) intensive adaptation to the external stimuli. These could be considered as functionally graded nanomaterials that consist of two major layers: an underlying (2–3 microns) thin-film PVD coating, the surface on which an outer nanoscale layer of dynamically re-generating tribo-films is produced as a result of self-organization during friction. This tribo-film nanolayer (dissipative structures) was discovered to represent complex matter, which exhibits characteristic properties and functions common to naturally occurring systems. These include adaptive interaction with a severely non-equilibrium environment; formation of compounds such as sapphire, mullite, and garnet, similar to those that arise during metamorphism; ability to evolve with time; as well as complexity and multifunctional, synergistic behavior. Due to several nanoscale effects, this nanolayer is capable of protecting the surface with unprecedented efficiency, enabling extensive control over the performance of the entire surface-engineered system. These surface-engineered nanomaterials can achieve a range (speed and level) of adaptability to the changing environment that is not found in naturally occurring materials. Therefore, these materials could be classified as metamaterials. The second major characteristic of these materials is the structure and properties of the coating layer, which mostly functions as a catalytic medium for tribo-film generation and replenishment. A functioning example of this type of material is represented by an adaptive hard thin-film TiAlCrSiYN/TiAlCrN nano-multilayer PVD coating, which can efficiently work in an extreme environment, typical for the dry machining of hard-to-cut materials.
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spelling doaj.art-6f7b0fa3d10543bba4c2c8fd39a38ea12023-11-20T11:55:12ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912020-08-01109172010.3390/nano10091720Thin-Film PVD Coating Metamaterials Exhibiting Similarities to Natural Processes under Extreme Tribological ConditionsG. S. Fox-Rabinovich0I. S. Gershman1S. Veldhuis2McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI), Department of Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S4L7, CanadaJoint Stock Company Railway Research Institute, Moscow State Technological University “Stankin” (MSTU “STANKIN”), Moscow 127994, RussiaMcMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI), Department of Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S4L7, CanadaThis paper discusses the surface-engineered nanomaterials (adaptive nano-structured physical vapor deposition (PVD) thin-film coatings) that can effectively perform under severely non-equilibrium tribological conditions. The typical features of these nanomaterials are: (a) Dynamically interacting elements present in sufficient amounts to account for its compositional/structural complexity; (b) an initial non-equilibrium state; (c) optimized micro-mechanical characteristics, and (d) intensive adaptation to the external stimuli. These could be considered as functionally graded nanomaterials that consist of two major layers: an underlying (2–3 microns) thin-film PVD coating, the surface on which an outer nanoscale layer of dynamically re-generating tribo-films is produced as a result of self-organization during friction. This tribo-film nanolayer (dissipative structures) was discovered to represent complex matter, which exhibits characteristic properties and functions common to naturally occurring systems. These include adaptive interaction with a severely non-equilibrium environment; formation of compounds such as sapphire, mullite, and garnet, similar to those that arise during metamorphism; ability to evolve with time; as well as complexity and multifunctional, synergistic behavior. Due to several nanoscale effects, this nanolayer is capable of protecting the surface with unprecedented efficiency, enabling extensive control over the performance of the entire surface-engineered system. These surface-engineered nanomaterials can achieve a range (speed and level) of adaptability to the changing environment that is not found in naturally occurring materials. Therefore, these materials could be classified as metamaterials. The second major characteristic of these materials is the structure and properties of the coating layer, which mostly functions as a catalytic medium for tribo-film generation and replenishment. A functioning example of this type of material is represented by an adaptive hard thin-film TiAlCrSiYN/TiAlCrN nano-multilayer PVD coating, which can efficiently work in an extreme environment, typical for the dry machining of hard-to-cut materials.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/10/9/1720nanomaterialsself-organizationadaptive nano-structured PVD thin-film coatings
spellingShingle G. S. Fox-Rabinovich
I. S. Gershman
S. Veldhuis
Thin-Film PVD Coating Metamaterials Exhibiting Similarities to Natural Processes under Extreme Tribological Conditions
Nanomaterials
nanomaterials
self-organization
adaptive nano-structured PVD thin-film coatings
title Thin-Film PVD Coating Metamaterials Exhibiting Similarities to Natural Processes under Extreme Tribological Conditions
title_full Thin-Film PVD Coating Metamaterials Exhibiting Similarities to Natural Processes under Extreme Tribological Conditions
title_fullStr Thin-Film PVD Coating Metamaterials Exhibiting Similarities to Natural Processes under Extreme Tribological Conditions
title_full_unstemmed Thin-Film PVD Coating Metamaterials Exhibiting Similarities to Natural Processes under Extreme Tribological Conditions
title_short Thin-Film PVD Coating Metamaterials Exhibiting Similarities to Natural Processes under Extreme Tribological Conditions
title_sort thin film pvd coating metamaterials exhibiting similarities to natural processes under extreme tribological conditions
topic nanomaterials
self-organization
adaptive nano-structured PVD thin-film coatings
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/10/9/1720
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