Electrochemical characteristics of nano-structure TiCN coatings on the tool steel deposited by PACVD in various solutions

Abstract

This study investigates The electrochemical behavior of various nano-structure TiCN coatings prepared using a plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition technique in acidic and alkaline solutions. The N2/Ar ratio was varied to explore its effect on the microstructure and electrochemical properties of coatings on the steel cold-work tool. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PP) measurements were carried out in various corrosive solutions. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were also utilized to evaluate the microstructure and phase detection. The EIS results showed that the resistance of TiCN coatings increased by about 94.3 % based on the equiaxed structure and small size of the coating cluster in 3.5 % wt NaCl solution after 24 h. The lowest corrosion rate with a value of 5.9 µA cm−2 in Ringer's solution at 37 °C after 24 h was attributed to the TiCN coating with the N2/Ar ratio of 0.4 according to exhibiting the highest Ti content and changes in present phases. The N2/Ar ratio of 0.7 effectively increased the impedance resistance to 97.5 % based on PP test results in 3 M H2SO4 solution. This behavior was related to the lowest value of the C/N ratio and the highest coating thickness.