Improvement on the Microstructural and Nanomechanical Properties of (TiAlZrNbY)N-based Multiphase Coatings by Compositional and Structural Design

A multi-target Ti0.46A10.20Zr0.19Nb0.07Y0.08 was used to prepare (TiAlZrNbY)N-based coatings onto stainless steel platelets by reactive cathodic arc technology. The dense microstructure was obtained in all coatings, though micro-droplets evidently existed on the surface of the coatings. The XRD analysis revealed the formation of the main single-phase cubic structure with a minor wurtzite phase for Al-rich coatings. The Williamson-Hall evaluations suggested that the crystallite sizes of experimental coatings ranged between 6–12 nm. All (TiAlZrNbY)N-based coatings displayed high physical properties. The adhesive strength of the best (TiAlZrNbY)N/CrN coating, in terms of critical load, was larger than 66 N, the hardness was bigger than 36 GPa and the friction coefficient was lower than 0.45. The present results suggest the expectant substitution of TiN, TiAlN, TiNbN and TiZrN coatings for (TiAlZrNbY)N-based coatings in industrial application and the technical advantage of TiAlZrNbY target in preparing hard (TiAlZrNb Y)N-based coatings by reactive cathodic arc technology.