Comparative study of Ti-C-Ni-Al, Ti-C-Ni-Fe, and Ti-C-Ni-Al/Ti-C-Ni-Fe coatings produced by magnetron sputtering, electro-spark deposition, and a combined two-step process

Comparative study of Ti-C-Ni-Fe, Ti-C-Ni-Al, and Ti-C-Ni-Al/Ti-C-Ni-Fe coatings obtained by electro-spark deposition (ESD) using TiCNi electrode, magnetron sputtering (MS) of TiCNiAl target, and a combination of these methods (MS-ESD) was carried out. The coating microstructures and elemental compositions were studied by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy. The materials were tested in terms of their hardness, elastic modulus, elastic recovery, crack resistance, friction coefficient, and wear resistance under sliding, impact and abrasive conditions, as well as corrosion- and oxidation resistance. The work demonstrated that the utilization of a combined two-step MS-ESD technology permits to obtain bilayers made of Ti-C-Ni-Al/Ti-C-Ni-Fe coatings with improved crack-, wear- and oxidation resistance compared with their single-layered Ti-C-Ni-Al counterparts deposited by MS, and with reduced friction coefficient and enhanced corrosion resistance compared with ESD Ti-C-Ni-Fe coatings.