Abstract A microstructure and age-hardening investigation was performed on a chromium nitride and tungsten nitride (CrWN) transition metal nitride coating for optical glass molds using electron microscopy and nano-indentation. The as-deposited coating had a non-uniformly distributed coherent solid solution matrix causing limited strengthening and unsatisfactory mechanical performance. Annealing of the coating induced spinodal decomposition of supersaturated solid solution and promoted diffusion within and homogenization of the solid solution matrix. Large areas of homogenized solid solution greatly strengthened the coherent matrix resulting in significant age-hardening of the annealed coating. These findings provide supporting data for understanding the age-hardening mechanism of transition metal nitride coatings.

中文翻译：

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了解CrWN涂层的时效硬化机制

摘要 采用电子显微镜和纳米压痕技术对用于光学玻璃模具的氮化铬和氮化钨 (CrWN) 过渡金属氮化物涂层进行了微观结构和时效硬化研究。沉积态涂层具有不均匀分布的连贯固溶体基质，导致有限的强化和不令人满意的机械性能。涂层的退火诱导过饱和固溶体的旋节线分解并促进固溶体基质内的扩散和均质化。大面积的均质固溶体大大加强了凝聚基体，导致退火涂层的显着时效硬化。这些发现为理解过渡金属氮化物涂层的时效硬化机制提供了支持数据。