The Journal of
the Korean Journal of Metals and Materials

The Journal of
the Korean Journal of Metals and Materials

Monthly
  • pISSN : 1738-8228
  • eISSN : 2288-8241

Editorial Office

Title Thermo-mechanical Degradation of NiCr Thin Film Subjected to Thermal Cycling
Authors (Eui Jong Lee); (Tai Min Noh); (Min Seok Jeon); (Hyun Gyoo Shin); (Hee Soo Lee)
DOI https://doi.org/10.3365/KJMM.2013.51.2.131
Page pp.131-135
ISSN 1738-8228(ISSN), 2288-8241(eISSN)
Keywords NiCr film; thermal cycling; accelerated test; degradation; failure mechanism
Abstract The thermo-mechanical degradation of NiCr films during thermal cycling was investigated in terms of microstructural and chemical changes to the surface. Thermal cycling was performed between room temperature and 200℃ in thermally evaporated NiCr films on an Mn-Ni-Co-O substrate. Isothermal exposures were also performed as a control experiment. The sheet resistance of the NiCr films increased linearly (from 35 to 52 Ω/sq.) with a temperature difference of the thermal cycling, whereas the films subjected to isothermal aging increased only slightly, from 35 to 38 Ω/sq. After 300 thermal cycles at ΔT=175℃, cracks formed and proliferated on the coating surface, and local delamination occurred at the interfaces. XPS results showed that the intensity of a metallic peak at 574.0 eV decreased and that of the Cr oxide peak at ~577 eV increased with an increase of the thermal cycles. Consequently, the degradation of the NiCr films by accelerated thermal cycling stress was attributed to a proliferation of lateral surface cracks from thermally induced tensile stress compounded by surface oxidation, causing an increase in sheet resistance.