Coating of Cr-V ledeburitic steel with CrN containing a small addition of Ag

► Effect of CrN and CrAgN coating on performance of ledeburitic PM steel analysed. ► Improved adhesion of CrAgN coating comparing to the CrN coating found. ► Friction coefficient lowered by 70% at 400 and 500 °C for CrAgN coating. ► Only a slight effect of coating on flexural strength of the substrate observed.