Cr/CrN multilayer coatings with bilayer periods in the range from 1351 to 260 nm were prepared on 304 stainless steel substrates by arc ion plating to study the microstructure and properties of multilayer coatings and stimulate their application.SEM results confirm the clear periodicity of the Cr/CrN multilayer coatings and the clear interface between individual layers.XRD patterns reveal that these multilayer coatings contain Cr,CrN and Cr_2N phases.Because Cr layer is softer than its nitride layer,the hardness decreases with the shortening of the bilayer period(or increasing volume fraction of Cr layer).The Cr/CrN multilayer coating with 862 nm period possesses the highest indentation toughness due to a proper individual Cr and nitride layer thickness.However,for the Cr/CrN multilayer with the bilayer period of 1351 nm,it possesses the lowest toughness due to more nitride phase.The indentation toughness of Cr/CrN multilayer coatings is related with their bilayer period.A coating with a proper individual Cr and nitride layer thickness possesses the highest indentation toughness.
