Structural and chemical composition analysis of WCN produced by pulsed vacuum arc discharge

FTIR spectra showed the existence of NCN, CC, CC, CN and CN bonds. In this energy range, two regions related to D and G bands that correspond to carbon bonds were identified. The nanoindentation technique was used to evaluate hardness. The coatings exhibited a low hardness (lower than 15 GPa), which was potentially caused by the presence of the oxide.