Characterisation of cathodic arc evaporated CrTiAlN coatings: Tribological response at room temperature and at 400 °C

In this work, cathodic arc evaporation CrTiAlN coatings have been deposited on H13 hot work steel and the tribological behavior investigated at room temperature and at 400 °C. The microstructure, composition, roughness, indentation hardness and lattice parameter have been measured as a function of the deposition conditions, mainly given by the different Cr and TiAl vapour fluxes coming from the cathode arrangement in the vacuum reactor. The coating microstructures showed dense, compact columnar growth and a good film adhesion. The lattice parameter measured over the (002) diffraction peaks exhibited a quasi lineal correlation with the Ti/Cr+Al atomic ratio of the samples. In addition, the indentation hardness also increased as the lattice parameter increased. The coefficients of friction unveiled the different tribological behavior of the samples depending on the stoichiomentry and the temperature. At 400 °C, the coefficients of friction showed high dispersion, in contrast to the coherent evolution observed at room temperature. The wear damage at 400 °C was more intense than that observed at room temperature in agreement with the friction evolution observed. The coating with a stoichiometry of Cr0.23Ti0.13Al0.22N0.42 showed a good wear performance at 400 °C.