Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigation on Different TiCn Duplex Treatments Applied to Cold Work Tool Steel for Surface Properties Improvement

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this work, different plasma nitriding and coating thickness combinations were tested to improve surface proprieties of a cold work tool steel. A DIN X100CrMoV8-1-1 cold work tool steel was plasma nitrided, using a 5 vol-%. N2 + 95 vol-% H2 gas mixture, for 2.5- and 5.0-h nitriding times. Then, the non-nitrided and nitrided substrates were coated with titanium carbonitride (TiCN)-graded thin films produced by cathodic arc plasma-assisted physical vapor deposition. Different deposition parameters were used to produce coatings with thicknesses of 1.0 and 2.0 µm. The samples were characterized regarding the microstructure, surface hardness, coating adhesion, and friction coefficient, which were measured by ball-on-disc tests. In the plasma nitriding process, it was possible to generate a diffusion layer, without the formation of a compound layer, with depths of 58 µm and 68 µm for 2.5 and 5.0 h, respectively. Both plasma nitriding treatments avoided delamination of the TiCN coating when deposited on the cold work tool steel. The TiCN coatings significantly decreased the friction coefficient, regardless of substrate condition. The lowest friction values were found for the thinner coating. The deeper diffusion zone led to higher hardness value, and highest scratch crack propagation resistance of the coatings, meaning superior coating adhesion. The best surface properties were found when combining the deeper plasma nitriding diffusion layer with the thinner PVD coating.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Y.-Y. Chang and S. Amrutwar, Effect of Plasma Nitriding Pretreatment on the Mechanical Properties of AlCrSiN-coated Tool Steels, Materials, 2019, 12(5), p 795.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. A.F. Rousseau et al., Microstructural and Tribological Characterisation of a Nitriding/TiAlN PVD Coating Duplex Treatment Applied to M2 High Speed Steel Tools, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2015, 272, p 403–408.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. B. Podgornik, J. Vizintin and V. Leskovsek, Wear Properties of Induction Hardened, Conventional Plasma Nitrided and Pulse Plasma Nitrided AISI 4140 Steel in Dry Sliding Conditions, Wear, 1999, 232, p 231–242.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. C. Mendibide, P. Steyer, J. Fontaine and P. Goudeau, Improvement of the Tribological Behaviour of PVD Nanostratified TiN/CrN Coatings - An Explanation, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2006, 201, p 4119–4124.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. F. Klocke and H.-W. Raedt, Formulation and Testing of Optimised Coating Properties with Regard to Tribological Performance in Cold Forging and Fine Blanking Applications, Int. J. Refract. Met. Hard Mater., 2001, 19, p 495–505.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. L. Llanes, E. Tarrés, G. Ramírez, C. Botero and E. Jiménez-Piqué, Fatigue Susceptibility Under Contact Loading of Hardmetals Coated with Ceramic Films, Procedia Eng., 2010, 2, p 299–308.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. W. Zhao and D. Kong, Microstructure, Bonding Strength, and Friction–Wear Performance of AlCrN/nitrided Layer Composite Coating on H13 Hot Work Mould Steel, Int. J. Appl. Ceram. Technol., 2019, 16(3), p 951–965.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Y. Deng et al., Effects of Tailored Nitriding Layers on Comprehensive Properties of Duplex Plasma-treated AlTiN Coatings, Ceram. Int., 2017, 43(12), p 8721–8729.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. G.B. Both, A.S. Rocha, G.R. Santos and T.K. Hirsch, An Investigation on the Suitability of Different Surface Treatments Applied to a DIN X100CrMoV8-1-1 for Cold Forming Applications, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2014, 244, p 142–150.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. V. Podgurskya, R. Nisumaa, E. Adoberg, A. Surzhenkov, A. Sivitski and P. Kulu, Comparative Study of Surface Roughness and Tribological Behavior During Running-in Period of Hard Coatings Deposited by Lateral Rotating Cathode Arc, Wear, 2010, 268, p 751–755.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. K. Holmberg, A. Matthews and H. Ronkainen, Coatings Tribology - Contact Mechanisms and Surface Design, Tribol. Int., 1998, 31, p 107–120.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. S. Baragetti and F. Tordini, Fatigue Resistance of PECVD Coated Steel Alloy, Int. J. Fatigue, 2007, 29, p 1832–1838.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. W.-S. Baek, S.-C. Kwon, S.-R. Lee, J.-J. Rha, K.-S. Nam and J.-Y. Lee, A Study of the Interfacial Structure Between the TiN Film and the Iron Nitrided Layer in a Duplex Plasma Surface Treatment, Surf. Coat. Technol., 1999, 144, p 94–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. J.C.A. Batista et al., Process Developments Towards Producing Well Adherent Duplex PAPVD Coatings, Surf. Eng., 2003, 19(1), p 37–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. S.C. Lee, W.Y. Ho and W.L. Pao, Process and Properties of CrN Coating Deposited on Plasma Nitrided High-speed Steel, Surf. Coat. Technol., 1995, 73(1–2), p 34–38.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. J. Zheng et al., Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Duplex-treated Composite Ceramic Coatings with and Without Compound Layer, Ceram. Int., 2015, 41(2), p 2519–2526.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. W. Chen et al., Comparison of AlCrN and AlCrTiSiN Coatings Deposited on the Surface of Plasma Nitrocarburized High Carbon Steels, Appl. Surf. Sci., 2015, 332, p 525–532.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. C. Kwietniewski and A. da Silva Rocha, Nitrided Layer Embrittlement due to Edge Effect on Duplex Treated AISI M2 High-speed Steel, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2004, 179, p 27–32.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. S. Rocha, T.R. Strohaecker, V. Tomala and T.K. Hirsch, Microstructure and Residual Stresses of a Plasma-nitrided Tool Steel, Surf. Coat. Technol., 1999, 115, p 24–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. A. Rocha and T. Hirsch, Effect of Different Surface States Before Plasma Nitriding on Properties and Machining Behavior of M2 High-speed Steel, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2003, 165, p 176–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Carbon-based films and other hard coatings - Rockwell penetration test to evaluate the adhesion, Standard number: DIN 4856, Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V., 2018-02.

  22. M. Müser and L. Valentin, Popov: Contact Mechanics and Friction: Physical Principles and Applications, Tribol. Lett., 2010, 40, p 395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. M. Yasuoka, P. Wang and P. Murakami, Comparison of the Mechanical Performance of Cutting Tools Coated by Either a TiCxN1−x Single-layer or a TiC/TiC0.5N0.5/TiN Multilayer Using the Hollow Cathode Discharge Ion Plating Method, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2012, 206, p 2168–2172.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. G. Cassar, S. Banfield, J.C. Avelar-Batista, J. Housden and A. Matthews, Tribological Properties of Duplex Plasma Oxidized, Nitrided and PVD Coated Ti–6Al–4V, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2011, 206, p 395–404.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. D.S. Rickerby and P.J. Burnett, The Relationship Between Hardness and Scratch Adhesion, Thin Solid Films, 1987, 154, p 403–416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. C.H. Lin, H.L. Wan and M.H. Hon, The Effect of Residual Stress on the Adhesion of PECVD- Coated Aluminum Oxide Film of on Glass, Thin Solid Films, 1996, 283, p 171–174.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. S. Zhang, D. Sun, Y. Fu and H. Du, Effect of Sputtering Target Power on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Nanocomposite nc-TiN/a-SiNx Thin Films, Thin Solid Films, 2004, 462, p 447–448.

    Google Scholar 

  28. S. Zhang and X. Zhang, Toughness Evaluation of Hard Coatings and Thin Films, Thin Solid Films, 2012, 520, p 2375–2389.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank CNPq (the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) for the financial support under the framework of the PQ scholarship process, Grant Numbers 311348/2015-7, 149850/2010-7, and 162290/2014-4.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Luciano Kempski, Vinicius Waechter Dias, Giovanni Rocha dos Santos & Alexandre da Silva Rocha

  2. Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil

    Ricardo Diego Torres

  3. Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Roberto Hubler

Authors
  1. Luciano Kempski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vinicius Waechter Dias
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Giovanni Rocha dos Santos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ricardo Diego Torres
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Roberto Hubler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Alexandre da Silva Rocha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vinicius Waechter Dias.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kempski, L., Waechter Dias, V., dos Santos, G.R. et al. Investigation on Different TiCn Duplex Treatments Applied to Cold Work Tool Steel for Surface Properties Improvement. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 30, 4445–4457 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-021-05713-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-021-05713-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation