Low-inertia method of control over nitrogen concentration in the PVD nitride coatings by non-self-sustained arc discharge with thermionic and hollow cathodes

Using the probe technique, a comparative analysis of parameters of the gas-metal plasma generated by low-pressure discharges is performed during variation of their main characteristics. It is shown that by varying the discharge current of the gas plasma source it is possible to readily change the fraction of gas ions in the gas-metal plasma generated by the arc evaporator and the gas plasma source with thermionic and hollow cathodes. In the case of nitride coatings, it is found out that the concentration of nitrogen in the coatings formed by the vacuum-arc plasma-assisted deposition increases, without any changes in the nitrogen working pressure. Using the coatings based on the Mo–N and Ti–N systems as examples, a twofold increase in the nitrogen concentration is shown as the ion current density of the gas plasma source increases by a factor of three in comparison with the modes without using this source. The method discussed in this study exhibits lower inertia compared to the traditional gas pressure variation. •Investigation of the gas- and gas-metal plasmas generated by an electric arc evaporator and gas plasma source.•Investigation of the effect of the modes of vacuum-arc plasma-assisted deposition on the gas-metal plasma parameters.•Examination of the elemental composition of nitride coatings varying as a function of the plasma assistance modes.•Low-inertial method for deposition of nitrogen-gradient coatings and multi-layer coatings of the Me/MeN type.