Oct, 31, 2024

Vol.57 No.5

Editorial Office

Review

  • The Korean Society of Surface Science and Engineering
  • Volume 57(5); 2024
  • Article

Review

The Korean Society of Surface Science and Engineering 2024;57(5):386-397. Published online: Nov, 5, 2024

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Bipolar High-power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering of Ta-W Alloy Film on the Inner Surface of 2,800 mm Stainless-Steel Tube

  • Kyoungho Jeona,b, Gyuwon Hana, Seoung Hyeon Euma, Sang Ho Limb, Seunghee Hana,*
    aNational Security & Disaster Safety Technology Group, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), 5, Hwarang-ro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea bDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, 145-Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02481, Republic of Korea
Abstract

Chrome plating is a method used to protect the inside of a gun barrel from the severe environment (3,000 K and 4,000 MPa for 20 ms) created by the propellant gas when a cannon is fired. However, Cr-plated films have physical limitations, and the formation of hexavalent Cr compounds has a harmful effect on the environment. Ta-W alloy film has been explored as an alternative to Cr plating owing to the high melting point and corrosion resistance of Ta. However, obtaining pure α-phase Ta by sputtering is difficult, and the autofrettage effect in gun barrels limits the use of annealing. Therefore, a deposition method without the use of additional heat treatment is required to prepare Ta-W films with alpha-phase Ta. We explored the feasibility of depositing Ta-W alloy film inside a 2,800 mm-long stainless-steel tube using bipolar high-power impulse magnetron sputtering. A specially designed cylindrical magnetron sputtering equipment and a four-stage experimental process was employed to deposit a coating with uniform thickness (10.59%) throughout the tube, high adhesive strength (51.51 MPa), and pure alpha-phase Ta. The findings of this study are useful for deposition of Ta-W alloy films inside large-caliber canons.

Keywords Cannon; Ta-W alloy; Cylindrical magnetron sputtering; Bipolar high-power impulse magnetron sputtering; Alpha phase; Thickness uniformity