Mechanical properties and impact resistance of multilayered TiAlN/ZrN coatings

Transition metal nitrides, such as ZrN and TiAlN, have been used as protective hard coatings due to their excellent tribological properties. In this study, ZrN, TiAlN and multilayered TiAlN/ZrN coatings were synthesized by cathodic-arc evaporation with plasma enhanced duct equipment. Zirconium and TiAl (50 at.% of Al) alloy cathodes were used for the deposition of TiAlN/ZrN coatings. During the coating process of multilayered TiAlN/ZrN, ZrN was deposited as an interlayer. With different cathode current ratios (I[TiAl]/I[Zr]) of 0.75, 1.0, and 1.33, the deposited multilayered TiAlN/ZrN coatings possessed different chemical contents and modulation periods. The nanolayer thickness and alloy content of the deposited coating were correlated with the evaporation rate of cathode materials. Modulation period and layer thickness ratio of TiAlN/ZrN increased with increasing I[TiAl]/I[Zr] cathode current ratio. The multilayered TiAlN/ZrN coatings possessed higher hardness of 33–38 GPa than that of the monolayered ZrN(30 GPa) and TiAlN(31 GPa) coatings. To study the correlation between impact fracture resistance and hardness/modulus ratio, an impact test was conducted using a tungsten carbide ball as an impact indenter. The multilayered TiAlN/ZrN coating with the lowest modulation period (25 nm) and the highest layer thickness ratio of TiAlN/ZrN (0.92) exhibited the best impact resistance (higher than 1 × 105 impacts) and the highest H3/E⁎2 ratio value of 0.443 GPa, indicating the best resistance to plastic deformation, among the studied TiAlN, ZrN and multilayered TiAlN/ZrN coatings.

► The alternate growth of TiAlN and ZrN in the coatings resulted in laminate structure.
► The TiAlN/ZrN possessed higher hardness of 33–38 GPa than the monolayered coatings.
► The TiAlN/ZrN with the highest layer thickness ratio of TiAlN/ZrN had the highest H3/E⁎2.
► The highest impact resistance was achieved in the coating with the highest layer thickness ratio.