Investigations of the structure and properties of PVD coatings deposited onto sintered tool materials

Purpose: The paper presents investigation results of the structure and properties of the coatings deposited by cathodic arc evaporation - physical vapour deposition (CAE-PVD) techniques on the sialon tool ceramics. The Ti(B,N), Ti(C,N), (Ti,Zr)N, (Ti,Al)N and multilayer (Al,Cr)N+(Ti,Al)N, (Ti,Al)N+(Al,Cr)N coatings were investigated. Design/methodology/approach: The structural investigation includes the metallographic analysis on the scanning electron microscope. Examinations of the chemical compositions of the deposited coatings were carried out using the X-ray energy dispersive spectrograph EDS. The investigation includes also analysis of the mechanical and functional properties of the material: microhardness tests of the deposited coatings, surface roughness tests, evaluation of the adhesion of the deposited coatings and tribological test made with the „pin-on-disk”. Findings: Deposition of the multicomponent coatings with the PVD method, on tools made from sialon’s ceramics, results in the increase of mechanical properties in comparison with uncoated tool materials, deciding thus the improvement of their working properties. Practical implications: The multicomponent coating carried out on multi point inserts (made on sintered sialon’s ceramics) can be used in the pro-ecological dry cutting processes without using cutting fluids. However, application of this coating to cover sialon ceramics demands still both elaborating and improvement adhesion to substrates in order to introduce these to industrial applications. Originality/value: The paper presents some researches of multicomponent coatings deposited by PVD method on sialon tool ceramics