The study of the tribological properties under high contact pressure conditions of TiN, TiC and TiCN coatings deposited by the magnetron sputtering method on the AISI 304 stainless steel substrate

Titanium carbonitride coatings are widely used to improve the wear resistance of surfaces. The results of tribological investigations of TiC, TiN, and TiCN coatings deposited on an AISI 304 steel substrate by the magnetron sputtering method were presented. The research aimed to describe the wear processes of the coatings during friction in an emergency situation, i.e. with a lack of lubrication and concentration of pressure in a small contact area. Tribological tests were performed on a ball-on-disk tribotester in reciprocating motion under technically dry friction conditions. The Hertz pressure in the contact area was ph = 2500-2700 MPa. Additionally, scratch tests and microscopic observations of the surfaces of the samples were performed after tribological tests to describe the wear process of the coatings. The results showed cracking, and coatings detachment from the substrate occur during friction. Deformation wear was observed as bulges in the material at the edge of the friction path. The deformation occurred primarily in the substrate material despite friction occurring on the surface of the coating. The best coating in terms of tribological properties was the TiN coating, which showed the highest resistance to wear in an emergency situation and the friction coefficient in the final stage of the test (above 90 cycles of movement) was only slightly higher than the values recorded for the other coatings. The TiN coating had high hardness, showed good adhesion to the substrate, and was not cracked, protecting it from damage.