LAUSR

Abstract In order to improve the adhesion strength and decrease the friction factor of the TiAlSiN coating, plasma nitrocarburizing (PNC)/TiAlSiN/DLC composite coating was prepared through double glow plasma metallurgy technology, radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering and multiarc-ion plating. The structural, mechanical and tribological properties of the PNC/TiAlSiN/DLC composite coating were compared to that of the single-layer TiAlSiN, double layer PNC/TiAlSiN and TiAlSiN/DLC coatings. The structural constitution and transformations in the coatings were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Visible Raman Spectroscopy. The heavy load-bearing capacity and low friction factor of the PNC/TiAlSiN/DLC composite coating reflect its excellent mechanical and tribological properties. The compound and DLC layers effectively improve the interfacial adhesion strength and medium temperature friction and wear behaviors of the original TiAlSiN coating.