Processing of Spark Plasma Sintered Fe Alloy and Enhancing Its Surface Properties by AlCrN Monolayer Coating by Cathodic Arc Plasma Physical Vapor Deposition Process

Abstract

The current investigation observes the outcome of enhancing the surface properties by AlCrN monolayer coating using the cathodic arc plasma method on the Fe–Cu–C–Mo alloys. The compacts were sintered in spark plasma sintering (SPS) with the heat transfer rate of 100 °C/min at 1120 °C for 5 minutes. The Fe–2Cu–0.8C–0.6Mo sample has the highest relative sintered density (97.20%), hardness (96 HRB), and ultimate tensile strength (1000 MPa) compare with the other sintered compacts. AlCrN coating was deposited on Fe, Fe–2Cu, Fe–2Cu–0.8C, Fe–2Cu–0.8C–0.2Mo, Fe–2Cu–0.8C–0.4Mo, and Fe–2Cu–0.8C–0.6Mo samples, using the cathodic arc plasma–physical vapor deposition (CAP-PVD) process. The coated compact samples’ metallography images were examined using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM); the Fe–2Cu alloy sintered sample has obtained a uniform structure with high density and a smaller amount of corrosion penetration rate (0.6579 mmpy) as compared to the counterparts. The phase formed in the AlCrN coating was analyzed using the X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The Fe–2Cu–0.8C–0.6Mo coated compact sample exhibited higher hardness (1134.85 HV0.3) than the other coated compact samples. The Fe–2Cu–0.8C–0.2Mo coated compact sample has proven better corrosion resistance compared to the other coated compact sample.