The Behavior of TiAlN and TiAlCrSiN Films in Abrasive and Adhesive Tribological Contacts

Abstract

Chromium and silicon are often introduced to increase the performance of TiAlN hard coatings in dry tribological contacts. The addition of Cr and Si during a high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) deposition process leads to high-quality TiAlCrSiN films. In this paper, the analysis of friction and wear of these films is conducted by oscillation tribometry under dry conditions with a subsequent mapping of the surface topography. Both abrasion- and adhesion-dominated conditions are realized using different steel counter bodies. Oscillation-frequency-dependent experiments show a significant impact of the compositional variation on friction and wear. It is shown that the TiAlCrSiN coating investigated has a higher coefficient of friction and a lower wear resistance compared to counterparts made of 100Cr6. The friction coefficient could be reduced by using a V2A counterpart. The results can be understood in terms of a reduced adhesion of both oxidic and metallic wear debris at the TiAlCrSiN surface. The study provides valuable progress towards the development of advanced cutting tools, e.g., for stainless steel.

Tribological Performance of Anti-Wear Coatings on Tools for Forming Aluminium Alloy Sheets Used for Producing Pull-Off Caps

“…The analysis of the structure of CVD and PVD TiAlSiN coatings deposited on cemented carbide tools indicated that both coatings consisted of nanocrystals embedded in amorphous SiN x [23]. Schulz et al [24] deposited wear-resistive TiAlCrSiN coatings on a WC/Co metal substrate. The TiAlCrSiN coating showed a significant reduction in coefficient of friction due to the addition of Cr and Si to the coating which reduces adhesion.…”