Characterization of TiN, CrN and (Ti, Cr) N Coatings Deposited by Cathodic ARC Evaporation

In this investigation, physical vapor deposited Ti-Cr-N coatings were coated on tool steel substrates using reactive arc evaporation. Microstructure and mechanical properties of coatings such as roughness, thickness, phase composition, hardness, Young’s modulus and coefficient of friction were studied. Phase compositions were investigated by X-ray diffraction method. Surface microstructure and morphology were studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and coating compositions were determined by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Mechanical properties were measured by nano indentation. The friction behavior of the coatings were investigated using ball-on-disc tests under normal loads of 7 N.The results showed that (Ti, Cr)N and TiN coatings consisted of only one cubic phase solid solution, while CrN coatings consisted of hexagonal Cr2N and cubic CrN phases. Average grain size of the coatings was found to be in the range of 14 to 20 nm. Mechanical behavior of the (Ti, Cr)N coatings was related to the Ti content, i.e. hardness decreased with decreasing Ti content. doi: 10.5829/idosi.ije.2014.27.07a.1