Properties of Ti(B,N) coatings deposited onto cemented carbides and sialon tool ceramics

Purpose: The aim of this paper was to investigate mechanical properties both of sintered carbides WC-Co type and sialon tool ceramics with wear resistance ternary coatings Ti(B,N) type deposited by the cathodic arc evaporation process (CAE-PVD). Design/methodology/approach: The microhardness tests of coatings were made using the ultra microhardness tester. The grain size of investigated coatings was determined by the Scherrer method. Tests of the coatings adhesion to a substrate material were made using the scratch test. There was investigated the roughness of both uncoated and coated surface multi-point inserts. Wear mechanism observations, after the scratch test, were carried out by the scanning electron microscope with EDS attachment. Findings: This paper presents that studied PVD coatings deposited on sintered carbides and sialon tool ceramics have an effect on increasing hardness surface of tools. Moreover, the results achieved after the investigation shown that a coating obtaining on tool ceramics has bigger grains and a smaller adhesion to substrate rather than a coating on sintered carbides. Furthermore, the investigations were shown that both single and double-sided delamination was a principal defect mechanism during the scratch test. Practical implications: The gradient Ti(B,N) coating carried out on multi point inserts (made on sintered carbides WC-Co type) 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 gradient Ti(B,N) nanocrystaline coatings deposited by CAE-PVD method on sintered carbides and sialon tool ceramics.