Title: Effect of substrate temperature on the properties of TiN coatings deposited on tool steels using ARC

Authors: M. Ali, E. Hamzah, M.R.M. Toff

Addresses: Department of Physics, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan. ' Department of Physics, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan. ' Department of Physics, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract: TiN coatings on tool steels were produced via cathodic arc PVD technique. We studied and discussed the effect of substrate temperature on microstructural and mechanical properties of TiN-coated tool steels. The coating properties investigated include crystallography, surface morphology, thickness, adhesion and microhardness. XRD studies revealed that the peaks intensities increased with substrate temperature. SEM analysis of coating showed uniform and dense structure. Coating deposited at 450°C shows about 11% increase in hardness compared to coating deposited at 150°C. The coatings deposited on HSS exhibited better adhesion compared to those on D2 tool steel.

Keywords: PVD; titanium nitride; microstructure; hardness; adhesion; substrate temperature; TiN coatings; tool steel; physical vapour deposition; crystallography; surface morphology; thickness; microhardness; high speed steel.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTECH.2009.026373

International Journal of Precision Technology, 2009 Vol.1 No.2, pp.147 - 154

Published online: 08 Jun 2009 *

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