Ti-Cr-N Coatings Deposited by Physical Vapor Deposition on AISI D6 Tool Steels

In this study, physical vapor deposition (PVD) Ti-Cr-N coatings were deposited at two different temperatures 100 and 400ºC on hardened and tempered tool steel substrates. The influence of the applied deposition temperature on the physical and mechanical properties of coatings such as roughness, thickness, phase composition, hardness and Young’s modulus were evaluated. Phase compositions were studied by X-ray diffraction method. Mechanical properties were determined by Nano indentation. The results showed different behavior s in the mechanical properties by changing the deposition temperature. (Ti, Cr)N and TiN coatings consisted of only one solid solution cubic phase, while CrN coatings exhibited hexagonal Cr2N and cubic CrN phases. Mechanical behavior of the (Ti, Cr)N coatings was related to the Ti content and their hardness reduced by decreasing the Ti content. (Ti, Cr)N coatings deposited at high temperature exhibited better mechanical properties compared to the coating deposited at low temperatures.