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Microstructure and mechanical properties of (Ti,Al,Zr)N/(Ti,Al,Zr,Cr)N films on cemented carbide substrates

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Abstract

(Ti,Al,Zr)N/(Ti,Al,Zr,Cr)N bilayer films were deposited on cemented carbide (WC-8%Co) substrates by multi-arc ion plating (MAIP) using two Ti-Al-Zr alloy targets and one pure Cr target. To investigate the composition, morphology, and crystalline structure of the bilayer films, a number of complementary methods of elemental and structural analysis were used, namely, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy disperse X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Adhesive strength and mechanical properties of the films were evaluated by scratch testing and Vickers microindentation, respectively. It is shown that the resulting films have a TiN-type face-centered cubic (FCC) structure. The films exhibit fully dense, uniform, and columnar morphology. Furthermore, as the bias voltages vary from −50 to −200 V, the microhardness (max. Hv0.01 4100) and adhesive strength (max. > 200 N) of the bilayer films are superior to those of the (Ti,Al,Zr)N and (Ti,Al,Zr,Cr)N monolayer films.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Shenyang University, Shenyang, 110044, China

    Shi-lu Zhao, Jun Zhang, Shuang-hong Wang & Zheng-gui Zhang

  2. Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Preparation Technology of Liaoning Province, Shenyang University, Shenyang, 110044, China

    Shi-lu Zhao

  3. Paint Shop, BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd., Shenyang, 110143, China

    Zhen Zhang

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  1. Shi-lu Zhao
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  2. Jun Zhang
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  3. Zhen Zhang
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  5. Zheng-gui Zhang
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Correspondence to Shi-lu Zhao.

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Zhao, Sl., Zhang, J., Zhang, Z. et al. Microstructure and mechanical properties of (Ti,Al,Zr)N/(Ti,Al,Zr,Cr)N films on cemented carbide substrates. Int J Miner Metall Mater 21, 77–81 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-0868-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-0868-y

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