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Analysis of institutional authors

Santiago JaAuthorPanizo-Laiz MAuthorMolina-Aldareguia JmCorresponding Author

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August 5, 2021
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Effect of Al content on the hardness and thermal stability study of AlTiN and AlTiBN coatings deposited by HiPIMS

Publicated to: Surface & Coatings Technology. 422 127513- - 2021-09-25 422(), DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2021.127513

Authors:

Mendez, A; Monclus, M A; Santiago, J A; Fernandez-Martinez, I; Rojas, T C; Garcia-Molleja, J; Avella, M; Dams, N; Panizo-Laiz, M; Molina-Aldareguia, J M
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Affiliations

CSIC-USE - Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Sevilla - Author
Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieros de Caminos Canales y Puertos - Author
Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales - Author
IMDEA Mat Inst, C Eric Kandel 2, Madrid 28906, Spain - Author
IMDEA Materials Institute - Author
Inst Fus Nucl Guillermo Velarde, C Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, Madrid 28006, Spain - Author
Instituto de Fusión Nuclear - Author
Nano4Energy SL - Author
Nano4Energy SL, C Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, Madrid 28006, Spain - Author
PVT Plasma & Vakuum Techn GmbH, Rudolf Diesel Str 7, D-64625 Bensheim, Hesse, Germany - Author
PVT Plasma und Vakuum Technik GmbH - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, ETS Ingenieros Caminos, C Prof Aranguren S-N, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, ETS Ingn Ind, Dept Fis Aplicada & Ingenieros Mat, C Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, Madrid 28006, Spain - Author
Univ Seville, CSIC, Inst Ciencia Mat Sevilla, Avda Amer Vespucio 49, Seville 41092, Andalucia, Spain - Author
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Abstract

The microstructure, mechanical properties and thermal stability of AlxTi1−xN and Al1Ti1-xBN coatings grown by reactive high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) have been analyzed as a function of Al/(Al + Ti) ratio (x) between 0.5 and 0.8. The coatings were predominantly formed by a face-centered cubic Ti(Al)N crystalline phase, both with and without B, even for x ratios as high as 0.6, which is higher than the ratio typically encountered for AlxTi1−xN coatings deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering. B doping, in combination with the highly energetic deposition conditions offered by HiPIMS, results in the suppression of the columnar grain morphology typically encountered in AlxTi1−xN coatings. On the contrary, the AlxTi1−xBN coatings grown by HiPIMS present a dense nanocomposite type microstructure, formed by nanocrystalline Ti(Al)N domains and amorphous regions composed of Ti(Al)B2 and BN. As a result, high-Al content (x ≈ 0.6) AlxTi1−xBN coatings grown by HiPIMS offer higher hardness, elasticity and fracture toughness than AlxTi1−xN coatings. Moreover, the thermal stability and the hot hardness are substantially enhanced, delaying the onset of formation of the detrimental hexagonal AlN phase from 850 °C in the case of Al0.6Ti0.4N, to 1000 °C in the case of Al0.6Ti0.4BN.
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Keywords

densityelastic-modulusfilmsgrowthhardnesshigh temperaturehipimsindentationion irradiationmicrostructurenanocompositenitridesputter-depositionCoatingHardnessHigh temperatureHipimsNanocompositeNitridePreferred orientation

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Surface & Coatings Technology due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2021, it was in position 5/20, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Materials Science, Coatings & Films.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 1.25. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 13, 2025)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.89 (source consulted: FECYT Mar 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-12-21, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 21
  • Scopus: 33
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-12-21:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 37.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 36 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 4.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 2 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Germany.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Mendez A) and Last Author (MOLINA ALDAREGUIA, JON MIKEL).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been MOLINA ALDAREGUIA, JON MIKEL.

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