Statement of Purpose

Prime Mover:
Fact 1: The three "base" coatings - TiN, TiCN and TiAIN - currently make up more than !" o# the $orld%s coating market& The TiN coating has no$ been superceded in many applications by the TiAlN coating& Fact ': TiAlN is a hard coating $ith high thermal and o(idation resistance& TiAlN is ideal #or high speed and high temperature applications& The coatings ha)e high toughness and stability, $ith impro)ed ductility compared $ith that o# TiN coatings& The reason #or this is the #ormation o# Al'*+ on the sur#ace o# the tool $hich increases the operational temperature range o# the coating to ,!! !C compared $ith -!! !C #or TiN& This has recently been increased by the addition o# chromium and yttrium or )anadium to the coating increasing the temperature range beyond !! !C& As the TiAlN coating is heated in air, a thin layer o# amorphous Al'*+ #orms on the sur#ace o# the coating, $hich protects the coating #rom #urther o(idation, thus acting as a protecti)e o(ide& This results in better hot hardness than most other coatings& In many high speed turning operations TiAlN outper#orms TiN or TiCN because o# the protecti)e o(ide layer& Fact +: TiAIN coating is also tough resulting in a reduction in coating chipping& Fact .: A ma/or challenge o# TiAlN coatings on kni#e-edges is the electric #ield around sharp edges $hich is presumed to ha)e a strong in#luence on the bombardment o# the kni#e-edge by energetic ions #rom the plasma&

My Contribution:
0y using my solid background in 1aterials 2cience, I $ould like to de)elop and optimi3e a coating deposition process that $ill not reduce the sharpness o# the high-end tools& 2ince I regularly operate 2415467 and 786, as these techni9ues are the analytical tools #or my 1aster Thesis& I $ill analyse the samples made by coating deposition process and optimi3e the process&

My Background:
I am a graduate engineer $ith First-Class-First :;old 1edallist< #rom one o# the top Ceramics =ni)ersity in India& A#ter around ' years o# industrial e(perience I ha)e /oined one o# the top Technical =ni)ersities at Chalmers-;>teborg =ni)ersity, 2$eden #or my 1aster o# 2cience speciali3ing in 1aterials 2cience& 1aterials 2cience is my core competence and I am passionate about it right #rom my childhood& I got the top most grades in the #ollo$ing core courses at Chalmers-;= - 1aterial 2cience: 2tructure ? @roperties, 1aterials 2cienceACharacteri3ation, 1aterials Characteri3ation and Failure Analysis, Ad)anced 4ngineering 1aterials, 2ur#ace @hysics ? 2ur#ace @rocesses& I am #amiliar $ith deposition techni9ues and I ha)e a 6ri)ing Bicense in 1C' clean room at Chalmers :1,!!! s9uare metres o# Cleanliness class 1<& I operate 2415467, 786, 6TA #or my 1aster Thesis and I $ill soon learn FI0 and T41& Currently doing 1aster Thesis: C*(idation o# Ti'AlC :1a(thalD '11<E, 1aster Thesis @ro/ect sponsored and #inanced by Corporate 8?6 FANTGAB A0 :A 2AN6HIF A0 ;roup Company< at GTC - 2$edish National Competence Centre #or Gigh Temperature Corrosion, Chalmers =ni)ersity o# Technology, ;>teborg, 2$eden&