Tribological Behavior of Multilayered WC-Ti1-xAlxN Coatings Deposited by Cathodic Arc Deposition Process on High Speed Steel

Recently, much of the current development in surface modification engineering are focused on multilayered coatings. Multilayered coatings have the potential to improve the tribological properties. Four different multilayered coatings were deposited on AISI D2 steel. The prepared samples are designed as $WC-Ti_{0.6}Al_{0.4}N$, $WC-Ti_{0.53}Al_{0.47}N$, $WC-Ti_{0.5}Al_{0.5}N$ and $WC-Ti_{0.43}Al_{0.57}N$. The multilayered coatings were investigated with respect to coating surface and cross-sectional morphology, roughness, adhesion, hardness, porosity and tribological behavior. Especially, wear tests of four multilayered coatings were performed by using a ball-on-disc configuration with a linear sliding speed of 0.017 m/sec, 5.38 N load. The tests were carried out at room temperature in air by employing AISI 52100 steel ball ($H_R=66$) having a diameter of 10 mm. The surface morphology, and topography of the wear scars of samples and balls have been determined by using scanning electron spectroscopy (SEM). Results have showed an improved wear resistance of the $WC-Ti_{1-x}Al_xN$ coatings with increasing of Al concentration. $WC-Ti_{0.43}Al_{0.57}N$ coating with the lower surface roughness and porosity with good adhesion enhanced wear resistance.