Effects of ceramic-based CrN, TiN, and AlCrN interlayers on wear and friction behaviors of AlTiSiN plus TiSiN PVD coatings

Abstract

In this study, the wear and friction behavior of cathodic arc physical vapor deposited AlTiSiN+TiSiN coatings on H13 tool steels were investigated by using CrN, TiN and AlCrN interlayers with tribometer tests both under unlubricated and boundary lubricated conditions. 6 mm alumina balls were used as counter surfaces to test ceramic hard coatings. Surface coatings were characterized through nanoindentation, scanning electron microscopy coupled with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM/EDXS), optical profilometry, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. The results showed that especially AlTiSiN+TiSiN coating with TiN interlayer resulted in a much more enhanced tribological performance of the tool steels at both unlubricated and the boundary lubricated conditions even at elevated contact pressures.