Abstract
Ti-Si-N coating layers were deposited onto WC-Co substrates by a hybrid system of arc ion plating (AIP) and sputtering techniques. The tribological behaviors of Ti-Si-N coating layers with various Si contents were investigated by the dry sliding wear experiments, which were conducted at three different sliding speeds, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 m/s, against the steel and alumina balls. In the case of steel ball, the average friction coefficient slightly decreased with increasing the sliding speed regardless of Si content due to adhesive wear behavior between coating layer and steel ball. At constant sliding speed, the average friction coefficient decreased with increase of Si content. On the contrary, in the case of alumina ball, the average friction coefficient increased with increasing the sliding speed regardless of Si content, indicating that the abrasive wear behavior was more dominant when the coating layers slide against alumina ball. Through these experimental results, it was found that the tribological behaviors of Ti-Si-N coating layers were effected by factors such as Si content, sliding speed, and kinds of counterpart materials rather than the hardness of coating layer.
