Synthesis and Characterization of Nanocrystalline Boron-Nitride Thin Films by Ion Milling and Thermal Treatment for Tribological Coatings: An Approach to Quantifying the Growth Dynamic Process.

Hexagonal boron-nitride nanoparticle coating was deposited on AISI 1045 steel surface. The deposition process included a transformation of B-containing thin organic film into nanocrystalline BN using two methods: thermal annealing at 450-850 °C and reactive ion etching in Ar/N plasma. The film structure, phases, and film morphology of deposited nanoparticles of boron nitride on AISI 1045 steel were characterized by XPS, XRD, and EDS.