THE EFFECT OF TiN, TiAlN, CrAlN, AND TiAlN/TiSiN COATINGS ON THE WEAR PROPERTIES OF AISI H13 STEEL AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

Abstract

TiN, TiAlN, CrAlN and TiAlN/TiSiN films were deposited on AISI H13 hot work steel substrate by cathodic arc evaporation method. Each coating was optimized in laboratory conditions and the highest hardness and wear resistance coatings were taken into consideration for this study. Morphological properties, chemical compositions, crystallographic structure, nano hardness and adhesion strength of coatings were analyzed with SEM, AFM, EDS, XRD, nano indentation and scratch resistance tester. Wear experiments were performed using ball-on-disk tribometer against Al2O3 ball of 6[Formula: see text]mm diameter and wear volume of coatings were measured using optical profilometer. Wear experimental results revealed that all coated samples showed higher wear resistance and hardness than uncoated AISI H13 steel substrate. The highest wear and scratch resistances as well as nano hardness were attained for CrAlN coating. TiAlN coating has the lowest scratch resistance and wear resistance. Adhesive wear mechanism was the dominant wear mechanism for CrAlN coatings which is the highest wear resistant coating. Abrasive wear mechanism was the dominant wear mechanism for TiAlN coatings which is the lowest wear resistant coating.