Development of Novel Boron-Based Multilayer Thin-Film

41 Development of Novel Boron-Based Multilayer Thin-Film--Front Edge Technology, Inc., 13455 Brooks Drive Suite A, Baldwin Park, CA 91706-2299; (818) 856-8979 Dr. Simon Nieh, Principal Investigator Mr. Stephen Denlinger, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-97ER82404 Amount: $73,420 Ultra-thin coatings of very hard, inert materials, such as metal nitrides, are commonly used on industrial cutting tools and manufactured parts to protect them from wear and corrosion (both of which are major sources of energy loss to the economy). Ultra-thin coatings of titanium nitride, for example, are widely used on industrial cutting tools to significantly increase their wear-life. Boron-based coatings are roughly twice as hard as the titanium nitride coatings but unfortunately, they are brittle, and do not adhere well to tools or parts. This project will develop boron-based coatings that are extremely tough (not brittle), while maintaining their high degree of hardness. They will also be engineered for excellent adhesion and low friction. In Phase I, the properties of the boron-based coating will be developed and tested in an R&D coating system. The coating will be a graded multi-layer structure, each layer imparting qualities that are lacking in boron alone (e.g., good adhesion, toughness, etc.). In Phase II, the technology will be scaled up to a multi-chamber production system to demonstrate that large quantities of parts can be coated economically. In both the R&D and production systems, coatings are deposited within a vacuum chamber, and the process is non-polluting. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The project would create a new generation of super-hard coatings (and a coating system) capable of greatly improving the wear life of millions of industrial cutting tools and manufactured parts in the transportation, aerospace, machine tool, textile, and related industries. The coatings would promote energy efficiency by reducing manufacturing times, and by increasing the longevity of cutting tools and manufactured parts. Such coatings and coating systems could be used by industrial companies worldwide._