INFLUENCE OF SURFACE FREE ENERGY ON ADHESION OF CrN THIN FILM DEPOSITED BY AIP METHOD

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between adhesion of CrN thin film and the surface free energy of substrate. CrN film was deposited on JIS SKH2 high speed tool steel by arc ion plating (AIP) method. The surface free energy of the substrate was measured with/without ion bombardment process using nitrogen and argon gas under various gas flow rate before CrN deposition. The surface free energy was measured by the sessile drop method using distilled water and methylene iodide. The adhesion was evaluated by scratch testing and the relationship between a critical load and the surface free energy in each ion bombardment condition was discussed. As a result, it was found that the adhesion increased with decreasing the surface free energy, in particular the polar component strongly affects the adhesion.