Effect of Cr alloying on friction and wear of sputter-deposited nanocrystalline (MoxCr1−x)5Si3 films

► The influence of the Cr additions on the dry sliding wear properties of nanocrystalline (MoxCr1-x)5Si3 films were investigated. ► The amount of Cr additions result in a transition of dominant wear mechanism of the nanocrystalline (MoxCr1-x)5Si3 films. ► The alloying additions of Cr to the D8m Mo5Si3 crystal structure is beneficial to improve bearing capacity and fracture toughness of the films.