Friction and Wear Behavior of a Physical Vapor Deposition Coating Studied Using a Micro-Scratch Technique

Abstract

Abstract CrSiN coating was deposited by physical vapor deposition (PVD) magnetron sputtering on XC100 steel substrate. Microstructural and morphological properties were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Nanoindentation and scratching experiments were conducted to study the mechanical and adhesion behavior. Multi-pass scratch tests were conducted under different sliding conditions. Results showed that CrSiN coating has a dense and compact nanocomposite microstructure consisting of CrN nanocrystallites and SiN amorphous matrix. The CrSiN thin film exhibit hardness and Young's modulus of 30.52 ± 1.85 GPa and 338.32 ± 13.5 GPa, respectively. The H/E, H3/E2, and 1/HE2 ratios were also calculated (H/E ≈ 0.09, H3/E2 ≈ 0.024, and 1/HE2 ≈ 2.86 × 10−07) and used to predict and assess the elastic/plastic and wear resistance. Critical loads LC1, LC2, and LC3 obtained with scratch test, were, respectively, 11.5 ± 0.12, 16.6 ± 0.23, and 20 ± 0.35 N. Multi-pass scratch were analyzed and the friction coefficient (COF), the damage mechanism, and wear volume were determined. The use of an energetic approach allowed to determine the energetic wear coefficient. CrSiN coating revealed a low friction coefficient (around 0.1) and a low energetic wear coefficient (6.3 × 10−7 mm3/N.m). In addition, it was found that multi-pass scratch method has the potential to extract relevant information about wear behavior.