Characteristics and machining applications of Ti(Y)N coatings

Abstract

The Ti(Y)N coatings were successfully deposited onto 18-8 stainless steel substrates by the hollow cathode discharge ion-plating method. The influence of the rare-earth element yttrium on the TiN coating properties was studied. The results show that the adhesion of the coating to the substrate were evidently enhanced by adding a small amount (0.2 wt.%) of the rare-earth element yttrium, showing a critical load of about 390 g which is much higher than that (230 g) of the TiN coating/substrate. Investigation on the corrosion resistance of the Ti(Y)N coating and the TiN coating was performed in 0.5 N Na 2 SO 4 + 0.1 N H 2 SO 4 + 0.1 N NaCl corrosion media by means of an electrochemical potentiodynamic polarization. The Ti(Y)N coating exhibited much better corrosion resistance than the TiN coating, whose passivity maintaining current is about one order in magnitude smaller than that of the TiN coating. The Ti(Y)N coatings deposited on some HSS-based tools were presented and compared with the TiN coating. The service lifetime of Ti(Y)N coated tools is approximately 36% higher (on the pinion shape cutters) and about 50% higher (on punch side pin) compared to that of TiN coated. The Ti(Y)N coatings showed such excellent performance. It is attributed to that the transition area of Ti(Y)N/substrate consisted of three sublayers which revealed a gradual change of phase structure and composition, so that the adhesion of the coating/substrate was evidently enhanced. Moreover, Ti(Y)N coating showed a preferred orientation with (111) plane which is favorable to improve wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the coating.