Effect of adhesion and the wear-resistant layer thickness ratio on mechanical and performance properties of ZrN - (Zr,Al,Si)N coatings

The study involved the investigation of the effect of the thickness of the adhesion layers (0.3 and 0.7 μm) and the wear-resistant layer (2.0, 4.0, 6.0, and 8.0 μm) on the microhardness, adhesion bond strength, and performance properties of the ZrN-(Zr,Al,Si)N coatings. The scratch-test method was applied to study the adhesion bond strength to the substrate and coating failure patterns. The study revealed an effect of the coefficient kwa, determining the effect of the thicknesses of the wear-resistant and adhesion layers of the coating on the value of the critical load LC2. The study investigated the wear patterns and mechanisms for the specified coatings and the tool life of tools with these coatings in turning. An effect of the coefficient kwa which is the adhesion and wear-resistant layer thickness ratio on the tool life and a difference in the wear pattern dynamics for tools with these coatings with wear-resistant layers of equal thickness and adhesion layers of different thicknesses was revealed. The study also determined the chemical and phase composition of the coatings. •The influence of the coating thickness on the nature of its wear and fracture.•The influence of the ratio of the thickness of the wear-resistant and adhesive layers of the coating on its properties.•A mechanism of crater formation on carbide inserts.