ABSTRACT
This paper reports on the interface region between a CrN coating and a Ti(6%Al, 4%V) substrate after sputter cleaning with Cr. EELS on a VG HB5 STEM and diffraction showed that Cr sputter cleaning of the Ti(6%A1,4%V) resulted in penetration of Cr into the substrate giving a bcc alloy of Ti and Cr with a graded composition. Subsequent deposition of CrN resulted in an initial layer of Cr2N as the system was changed from sputter cleaning to coating followed by a {022} textured fee CrN layer.
