PROPERTIES AND APPLICATIONS OF ION-PLATED COATINGS IN THE SYSTEM CR-C-N

Titanium-based coatings applied by physical vapour deposition (PVD) are widely used in different metal cutting and forming operations, especially on iron-based alloys. On other materials such as titanium and nickel alloys or copper, cutting and forming tools made with titanium-based hard coatings are often not very successful. Because electroplated hard chromium is sometimes used for drills and taps in titanium machining, it was interesting to see how PVD Cr-C-N coatings would perform in similar situations. Cr-C-N coatings in a wide range of compositions were deposited by an ion-plating technique. The phase formation, hardness, oxidation and corrosion resistance of the coatings were examined. Some interesting applications for these coatings in metal cutting and forming and in aluminium die casting are presented.