Comparison of TiAlN, AlCrN, and AlCrN/TiAlN coatings for cutting-tool applications

• Published in: International journal of minerals, metallurgy and materials Vol. 21; no. 8; pp. 796 - 805
• Main Authors: Sampath Kumar, T., Balasivanandha Prabu, S., Manivasagam, Geetha, Padmanabhan, K. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing University of Science and Technology Beijing 01.08.2014; Springer Nature B.V; Department of Mechanical Engineering, C. Abdul Hakeem college of Engineering and Technology, Hakeem Nagar, Melvisharam 632509, India%Department of Mechanical Engineering, college of Engineering Guindy, Anna University, Chennai 600025, India%School of Mechanical and Building Sciences, VIT University, Vel ore 632014, India%School of Engineering Sciences&Technology, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India
• Subjects: Atomic force microscopy; Bilayers; Ceramics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Coatings; Composites; Corrosion and Coatings; Droplets; Glass; Hardness; Inserts; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Metallurgy; Modulus of elasticity; Nanoindentation; Natural Materials; Photomicrographs; Physical vapor deposition; Scanning electron microscopy; Scratch resistance; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; Titanium aluminum nitride; Tribology; Tungsten; Tungsten carbide; X-ray diffraction; cutting tools; coatings; nanoindentation; characterization; physical vapor deposition
• ISSN: 1674-4799; 1869-103X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12613-014-0973-y

Monolayer and bilayer coatings of TiAlN, AlCrN, and AlCrN/TiAlN were deposited onto tungsten carbide inserts using the plasma enhanced physical vapor deposition process. The microstructures of the coatings were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The SEM micrographs revealed that the AlCrN and AlCrN/TiAlN coatings were uniform and highly dense and contained only a limited number of microvoids. The TiAlN coating was non-uniform and highly porous and contained more micro droplets. The hardness and scratch resistance of the specimens were measured using a nanoindentation tester and scratch tester, respectively. Different phases formed in the coatings were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The AlCrN/TiAlN coating exhibited a higher hardness (32.75 GPa), a higher Young’s modulus (561.97 GPa), and superior scratch resistance ( L CN = 46 N) compared to conventional coatings such as TiAlN, AlCrN, and TiN.