Bogdan Warcholiński

Surface Microstructure of Mo(C)N Coatings Investigated by AFM

MoCN coatings have been formed by cathodic arc evaporation using the mixture of acetylene and nitrogen and pure molybdenum target. The surface structure, in conjunction with x-ray data, was analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM results show differently shaped grain forms on the surface of coatings investigated. The increase in carbon in chemical coatings composition results in the reduction in surface grain size and the increase in roughness of the coatings.

Wear and Corrosion Behavior of CrCN/CrN Coatings Deposited by Cathodic arc Evaporation on Nitrided 42CrMo4 Steel Substrates

In the paper, the results of wear and corrosion tests of the CrCN/CrN multilayer coatings, formed by cathodic arc evaporation on 42CrMo4 (AISI 4140) steel substrates are presented. The substrates were subjected to thermo-chemical treatment–nitriding with various nitriding potential. The results of nitriding were determined by XRD and the hardness profile in the samples cross-section. The morphology of thin coatings was examined with SEM. A Vickers FV-700 and Fisherscope HM2000 hardness testers enabled to investigate hardness of steel substrates and CrCN/CrN coatings respectively. A pin-on-disc wear tests were used to determine the hardness and tribological parameters of the coatings: the coefficient of the friction and wear rate. The scratch test and Rockwell test were applied to assess the adhesion of the coatings to the substrates. The corrosion properties of coating–steel substrate systems were investigated using potentiodynamic polarisation tests. Corrosion potential, corrosion current density and polarization resistance were determined. It was found that that the nitriding of steel substrates improves properties of the coating–substrate system. The nitriding 42CrMo4 steel substrate with low nitriding potential enable to obtain substrates without surface “white layer” what favours good adhesion of the coating to the substrate. The CrCN/CrN multilayer coating–steel substrate systems show good mechanical and tribological properties and corrosion resistance.