Effect of counterparts on the tribological properties of TiCN coatings with low carbon concentration in water lubrication

TiN and TiCN coatings have long been used for wear reduction in application like tooling, but there are other potential industrial applications in aqueous environments. Therefore, the current investigation explores the friction and wear compatibility of TiN and TiCN coatings against potential sliding partners in water. 316 L discs coated with TiN and TiCN (containing 2.46 at% C) slid against fixed balls of Al2O3, SiC, Si3N4, and SUS440C in water. In terms of mean steady-state friction coefficient, the ranking from low to high was: SiC