Oxidation of Sputtered Cu, Zr, ZrCu, ZrO2, and Zr‐Cu‐O Films during Thermal Annealing in Flowing Air

The article deals with oxidation of Cu, Zr, ZrCu, ZrO2, and Zr-Cu-O films during post-deposition thermal annealing in flowing air. The films were deposited using dc unbalanced magnetron from pure or composed target in Ar or an Ar + O2 mixture. The oxidation behavior of the films was characterized by high-temperature thermogravimetry and XRD. Mechanical properties were measured by a microindenter Fischerscope H100. Thermal annealing was carried out over a wide range from 300 to 1 300 °C. Special attention was devoted to the oxidation of Cu and to the effect of Cu content in Zr-Cu-O films on the oxidation resistance. It was shown that the conversion at ∼1 040 °C is a reversible process.