CORROSION AND WEAR PROPERTIES OF MULTIPURPOSE COATINGS DEPOSITED BY ION-BEAM-ASSISTED DEPOSITION

Electrochemical measurements and wear tests were performed on aluminium and aluminium alloy coating containing magnesium for uniform and local pitting corrosion protection of low carbon steel substrates. Final hard chromium nitride and aluminium nitride layers were deposited at the surface of the protective films in order to lower friction and wear. The results show that wear and corrosion protection can be improved by use of bifunctional multilayers. The coatings for multipurpose application were generated by ion-beam-assisted deposition. The defined intrinsic film stress controlled by the ion-to-atom arrival ratio influences the corrosion properties. Increasing the ion-to-atom ratios usually improves the corrosion resistance.