Antifriction Superhard Coatings for Drill Bits and Boring Cutters

Coatings obtained by sputtering a stainless steel cathode and a plate titanium cathode cut from drill bit cutters JCS-M60 MX 172 544.00 are investigated. The measured microhardness of the plate drill bit is 1400 HV (Vickers) and that of coating 12Cr18Ni10T+Ti is 2200 HV that is significantly higher. The measured coefficient of dry friction for a drill bit plate on steel equals to 0.82, and it is 0.12 for coating 12Cr18Ni10Ti+Ti. Coating 12Cr18Ni10Ti+Ti deposited on the drill bit cutters in nitrogen gas may be used to modify the surface of drill bits and boring cutters to increase their lifetime. Such coatings, having a small friction coefficient, high hardness and low cost of production, can compete with traditionally used diamond materials.