Effects of Layer Addition on Hardness of a Multi-Layered TiAlN and TiN Coating

Authors

  • N.J. Suang, W.F.H. W. Zamri, M.F.M. Din, A. Shamsudeen, I. F. Mohamed, A.K. Ariffin

Abstract

Various types of coatings are being used extensively to enhance the mechanical properties of the substrate in the initial stage. In terms of their tribological characteristics, coatings should have good mechanical properties such as a high level of hardness to reduce wear and friction. This study focused on identifying the mechanical properties, especially the effects of hardness of a multi-layered coating comprised of equal proportions of TiAlN and TiN (50 % TiAlN; 50% TiN). The multi-layered coating had better mechanical properties than the single coating. The multi-layered coating was comprised of two types of coatings with different mechanical properties. The function of the harder coating, namely, the TiAlN coating, was to protect the coated surface from stress and deformation, while the function of the TiN coating, with its high Young’s modulus, was to absorb the von Mises stress and to prevent the smooth propagation of stress contours. Increasing the number of layers led to an increase in the hardness of the coating. Nevertheless, the hardness of the coating decreased dramatically once a certain number of layers were attained. The plastic strain of the multi-layered coating was directly proportional to the hardness of the coating. This was because the multi-layered coating experienced a plastic strain that prevented the coating from peeling away from the substrate. There was a strong connection between the wear resistance of the coating and the hardness of the coating. Therefore, the superior wear resistance should be optimally combined with hardness of the coating. The challenges of the study is to develop the multi-layered coating in FEM and to consider the main properties that contributed to the layers.

Keywords-Finite element method; Sliding; Coefficient of friction; Ball bearing.

Published

2021-06-05

Issue

Section

Articles