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Syntheses of nano-multilayered TiN/TiSiN and CrN/CrSiN hard coatings

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Abstract

Nano-structured superhard coatings represent the state-of-the-art in the rapidly increasing worldwide market for protective coatings. In this study, the combination of nano-composite and nano-multilayered structures into the same coating was attempted. Nano-multilayered coatings of TiN/TiSiN and CrN/CrSiN were deposited on tool steel substrates by closed-magnetic-field unbalanced DC magnetron sputter ion plating. The coating structures were characterized using X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Mechanical characterizations were performed including nano-hardness measurement, progressively-increasing-load scratch test, and wear test. TiN/TiSiN coatings have a nano-hardness of 40.2 GPa, whereas CrN/CrSiN coatings have a hardness of 30.9 GPa. TiN/TiSiN coatings also showed a higher critical failure force and scratch fracture toughness as well as better wear resistance and lower acoustic emission signal, indicating less total damage to the coatings.

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Acknowledgment

The authors acknowledge the support of European Union Project RESTOOL.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Advanced Materials and Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Jiang-Li Cao

  2. School of Mechanical, Materials, Manufacturing Engineering and Management, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

    Jiang-Li Cao & Kwang-Leong Choy

  3. Teer Coatings Ltd., Droitwich, Worcestershire, WR9 9AS, UK

    Hai-Lin Sun, Hui-Qing Li & Dennis Teer

  4. Institute of Materials Engineering, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo, 315016, China

    Ming-Dong Bao

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  1. Jiang-Li Cao
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  2. Kwang-Leong Choy
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  4. Hui-Qing Li
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  5. Dennis Teer
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  6. Ming-Dong Bao
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Correspondence to Jiang-Li Cao.

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Cao, JL., Choy, KL., Sun, HL. et al. Syntheses of nano-multilayered TiN/TiSiN and CrN/CrSiN hard coatings. J Coat Technol Res 8, 283–288 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-010-9275-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-010-9275-0

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