Effect of Multilayer Cr/CrN Coatings Deposited by Magnetron Sputtering on the Thermal Stability and High-Temperature Steam Oxidation Resistance of Zirconium Alloy E110
Source abstract
Abstract
The effect of the multilayer structure of Cr/CrN coatings deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering on zirconium alloy E110 (Zr–1Nb) on their thermal stability and resistance to steam oxidation at 1100 °C was studied. Coatings with different numbers of alternating Cr and CrN sublayers (1, 2, 4, and 6) were fabricated using experimental methods of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive analysis (SEM/EDS). It was shown that an increase in the number of alternating Cr and CrN sublayers leads to the preservation of the cubic phase of CrN, the formation of a dense structure, and a decrease in Cr–Zr interdiffusion. After testing, multilayer coatings retaining the internal structure and a sufficiently structurally dense Cr2O3 layer effectively ensured air penetration. The best thermal stability was demonstrated by a six-layer coating, ensuring minimal oxidation and preservation of the E110 substrate.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Nuclear Materials and Properties · Metal and Thin Film Mechanics · High-Temperature Coating Behaviors
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
PlasmaScience LLP, Ust-Kamenogorsk 070018, Kazakhstan
LLP Institute of Materials Science and Metallurgy, Ust-Kamenogorsk 070018, Kazakhstan
School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
Funding
Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan
References (25)
Show source-provided references
1. Accident Tolerant Fuel Cladding Development: Promise, Status, and Challenges10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.12.043 ↗
2. Oxidation Behavior of Cr-Coated Zirconium Alloy Cladding in High-Temperature Steam above 1200 °C10.1038/s41529-021-00155-8 ↗
3. Steam Oxidation of Cr-Coated Zirconium Alloy Claddings at 1200 °C: Kinetics Transition and Failure Mechanism of Cr Coatings10.1016/j.jnucmat.2023.154684 ↗
4. Oxidation Behavior and Kinetics of Magnetron-Sputtered Cr-Coated Zr Alloy Cladding in 1000–1300 °C Steam Environment10.1016/j.corsci.2023.111215 ↗
5. High Temperature Oxidation of Cold Spray Cr-Coated Accident Tolerant Zirconium-Alloy Cladding with Nb Diffusion Barrier Layer10.1016/j.jnucmat.2023.154822 ↗
6. (2025, October 17). Interdiffusion Behavior Between Cr and Zr and Its Effect on the Microcracking Behavior in the Cr-Coated Zr-4 Alloy|Nuclear Science and Techniques. Available online: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41365-021-00977-w.
7. Transient Experiments on Oxidation and Degradation of Cr-Coated Zircaloy in Steam up to 1600 °C10.1016/j.corsci.2021.109805 ↗
8. Chen, H., Wang, X., Zhang, R., Chen, H., Wang, X., and Zhang, R. (2020). Application and Development Progress of Cr-Based Surface Coating in Nuclear Fuel Elements: II. Current Status and Shortcomings of Performance Studies. Coatings, 10.10.3390/coatings10090835 ↗
9. High Temperature Steam Oxidation of Chromium-Coated Zirconium-Based Alloys: Kinetics and Process10.1016/j.corsci.2020.108537 ↗
10. A Systematic Study of the Oxidation Behavior of Cr Coatings on Zry4 Substrates in High Temperature Steam Environment10.1016/j.corsci.2020.108826 ↗
11. Rakhadilov, B., Magazov, N., Kakimzhanov, D., Apsezhanova, A., Molbossynov, Y., Kengesbekov, A., Rakhadilov, B., Magazov, N., Kakimzhanov, D., and Apsezhanova, A. (2024). Influence of Spraying Process Parameters on the Characteristics of Steel Coatings Produced by Arc Spraying Method. Coatings, 14.10.3390/coatings14091145 ↗
12. Zhassulan, A., Rakhadilov, B., Baizhan, D., Kengesbekov, A., Kakimzhanov, D., Musataeva, N., Zhassulan, A., Rakhadilov, B., Baizhan, D., and Kengesbekov, A. (2025). Influence of TiO2 Nanoparticle Concentration on Micro-Arc Oxidized Calcium–Phosphate Coatings: Corrosion Resistance and Biological Response. Coatings, 15.10.3390/coatings15101142 ↗
13. Rakhadilov, B., Kakimzhanov, D., Mural, A., Turabekov, Y., Rakhadilov, B., Kakimzhanov, D., Mural, A., and Turabekov, Y. (2025). Effect of Technological Parameters of Detonation Spraying on the Properties of Cr2O3 Coatings. Coatings, 15.10.3390/coatings15080943 ↗
14. Sagdoldina, Z., Rakhadilov, B., Maulet, M., Sulyubayeva, L., Drenda, C., Bolatov, S., Sagdoldina, Z., Rakhadilov, B., Maulet, M., and Sulyubayeva, L. (2025). Comprehensive Study of the Mechanical and Tribological Properties of NiCr-Al Detonation Coatings. Appl. Sci., 15.10.3390/app15137513 ↗
15. Protective Cr Coatings with CrN/Cr Multilayers for Zirconium Fuel Claddings10.1016/j.surfcoat.2022.128131 ↗
16. Sidelev, D.V., Syrtanov, M.S., Ruchkin, S.E., Pirozhkov, A.V., Kashkarov, E.B., Sidelev, D.V., Syrtanov, M.S., Ruchkin, S.E., Pirozhkov, A.V., and Kashkarov, E.B. (2021). Protection of Zr Alloy under High-Temperature Air Oxidation: A Multilayer Coating Approach. Coatings, 11.10.3390/coatings11020227 ↗
17. Influence of Oxygen Content on Structure, Thermal Stability, Oxidation Resistance, and Corrosion Resistance of Arc Evaporated (Cr, Al)N Coatings10.1016/j.surfcoat.2021.128057 ↗
18. Effects of Multi-Layer Structure on Microstructure, Wear and Erosion Performance of the Cr/CrN Films on Ti Alloy Substrate10.1016/j.apsusc.2019.04.008 ↗
19. Microstructure, High-Temperature Corrosion and Steam Oxidation Properties of Cr/CrN Multilayer Coatings Prepared by Magnetron Sputtering10.1016/j.corsci.2021.109755 ↗
20. Morphology and Crystallography of Cr, CrN and CrAlN Films—Effect of Annealing Temperature
21. High-Temperature Oxidation of Thin CrN Coatings Deposited on Steel10.1116/1.580014 ↗
22. Oxidation Behavior of Chromium Nitride Films10.1016/j.tsf.2006.06.039 ↗
23. A Comparative Study of the Oxidation Behavior of Cr2N and CrN Coatings10.1016/j.tsf.2013.01.031 ↗
24. Improving the High-Temperature Oxidation Resistance of CrN Coating by Gradient Deposition Considering Internal Stress Effects10.1016/j.nme.2023.101531 ↗
25. Rumble, J. (2021). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, CRC Press. [102nd ed.].