Thin hard CVD and PVD coatings and their potential in steel wire drawing applications

In the present work, the potential of using thin hard CVD and PVD coatings in order to improve the performance of cemented carbide steel wire drawing nibs is evaluated. Coating materials include some state-of-the-art CVD and PVD coatings and pre- and post-coating treatments were used to improve the surface topography of the coated functional surfaces. The tribological performance of the coatings has been evaluated by sliding wear tests and wire drawing experiments under well controlled conditions. Post-test characterization of the coated nibs using 3D optical surface profilometry, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy illustrates the pros and cons of the two deposition techniques but also that the coatings have a potential to improve the performance of cemented carbide nibs in steel wire drawing applications