Possibility of using inexpensive steel protected by deposited vacuum-arc coatings as a basis for parts and tools coating technology

Abstract

The aim of the work was to identify the possibility of using under extreme conditions parts made of inexpensive steel, protected by sequentially deposited films — Cr and then simultaneously TiN + CrN, micron thickness. Steel grade St3 (Fe ~ 97%) was chosen as the basis. In our country, as in many others, this steel is not only the most common structural material with easy processing and low cost, but also produced in large volumes. The deposition of two consecutive layers of films — Cr and TiN + CrN on steel substrates was carried out using vacuum-arc technology (Arc-PVD). The measurements were carried out after the process of periodic heating of the samples to a temperature of 650 ⁰C, followed by rapid cooling, implemented by immersing the samples in water. The main parameters of the coating were measured — wear resistance, heat resistance, microhardness. Each thermal effect lasted 20 hours, and the entire heating-cooling process was carried out 5 times. The results obtained in this work can be considered very promising for the protection of inexpensive steels.