Structure And Tribological Properties Of TiCN Coatings Deposited On Titanium Alloy By Arc Ion Plating

TiCN film was deposited on Ti6Al4V alloy by arc ion plating. The influence of carbon content and substrate bias on the structure and properties of the TiCN films was studied. The tribological behavior was evaluated in the atmosphere, water and seawater for the coated Ti6A14V with TiCN film.TiCN films have a columnar crystal structure with a total thickness of about3μm. The film becomes dense and Ra roughness decreases with increase of carbon content. The elements of Ti、 C and N were presented as TiN、TiC in the TiCN films. A little free carbon appears with increasing carbon content in the TiCN films. With increase of carbon content, hardness and modulus of TiCN films increases, but the adhesion decreases, and moreover the friction coefficient and wear rate also decreases. For the bias, the hardness and modulus of TiCN film increases with increase of bias, but the adhesion first increases and then decreases. The higher bias lead to a poor tribological properties. Both friction coefficient and wear rate are obviously decreased in the seawater comparing with atmosphere. While increasing carbon content in TiCN film, the friction coefficient and wear rate decreases. Because the lubrication effect, the sea water contribute to obvious decrease in friction coefficient, but sea water also accelerates wear due to corrosion role.