Investigated multicomponent coating nitride (Ti-Zr-Cr-Nb)N in this study were obtained using a well-developed technique of vacuum-arc deposition. Theoretical and experimental studies show that the chemical composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of coatings are based closely on deposition parameters (the working gas pressure and bias potential on the substrate). The microstructure and mechanical properties (Ti-Zr-Cr-Nb)N coatings were investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive microanalysis prefix and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Phase analysis of nitride coatings (Zr-Ti-Cr-Nb)N indicates a TiN phase, NbTiN2, ZrTiNb, ZrNb, TiCr and α-Ti. The coatings thickness reached 6.8 μm and their maximum of hardness was H = 43,7GPa. Tribological (test “ball-on-disc”) and mechanical (scratch test) properties of multi-coating were studied. The experimental results obtained by studying multicomponent coatings (Ti-Zr-Cr-Nb)N are promising and can be used as protective coatings for cutting tools and structural materials.
Physical and mechanical properties of (Ti–Zr–Nb)N coatings fabricated by vacuum-arc deposition