Cathodic Ion Plating Research Articles

Nanoindentation analysis of TiN, TiAlN, and TiAlSiN coatings prepared by cathode ion plating

The TiN, TiAlN and TiAlSiN coatings were deposited on H13 hot-worked mold steel by cathodic arc ion plating (CAIP). The morphologies, phase compositions, and nanoindentation parameters, such as creep hardness, elastic modulus and plastic deformation energy of the coatings were analyzed with field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nanoindentation testing, respectively, and the test results were compared with equation describing the indentation model. The results show that the TiN, TiAlN and TiAlSiN coating surfaces were dense and composed of TiN, TiN + TiAlN, TiN + Si3N4 + TiAlN phases, respectively. There was no spalling or cracking on the indentation surface. The creep hardness of the TiN, TiAlN and TiAlSiN coatings was 7.33, 13.5, and 15.2 GPa, respectively; the corresponding hardness measured by nanoindentation was 7.09, 15.6, and 21.7 GPa, respectively; and the corresponding elastic modulus was 201.93, 172.79, and 162.77 GPa, respectively. The contact depth and elastic modulus calculated by the indentation model were close to those of the test results, but the remaining indentation parameters showed discrepancies. The sequence of plastic deformation energy was TiN > TiAlN>TiAlSiN.

Analysis of structure and bonding strength of AlTiN coatings by cathodic ion plating

AlTiN coating was prepared on the surface of YT14 hard alloy cutter by cathodic arc ion plating, and the surface-interface morphologies, line scans of the interface elements and valence state of chemical elements were analyzed with field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively, and bonding strength of the coating was measured with scratching tester. The results show that the elements of Al and N mainly exist in the AlTiN coating with an AlN and AlTiN hard phase, and (the) Ti element mainly exists in the coating with a TiN hard phase, which improve wear resistance of AlTiN coating. The elements of Al, Ti and N are diffused at the coating interface, in which part of Ti atoms are replaced by Al atoms at the TiN lattice, still keep face-centered cubic structure of TiN coating to form metallurgical bonding, and bonding strength of the coating interface measured by scratching tester is 78.75 N, which is beneficial to improving service life of AlTiN coating prepared on the surface of carbide tool cutter.