Jochen M. Schneider, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
It is well known that HIPIMS offers control over ion energy and ion flux of coating forming species. This fact can be utilized to affect the defect structure and hence the coating properties. Here, coating material design approaches focusing on enhanced thermal stability and improved mechanical behavior are presented that utilize ion energy and ion flux to affect structural complexity. The implications thereof for sustainability are discussed. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that chemical complexity can be utilized to enhance the thermal stability of coatings, again in a sustainable fashion.
Both sustainability inspired design approaches are enabled by quantum mechanical predictions pertaining to phase formation, thermal stability and mechanical behavior. The here communicated causal relationships showcase material design opportunities in the context of sustainability.