Influence of Y-addition and multilayer modulation on microstructure, oxidation resistance and corrosion behavior of Al0.67Ti0.33N coatings

In this work, Al0.67Ti0.33N, Al0.65Ti0.33Y0.02N and Al0.67Ti0.33N/Al0.65Ti0.33Y0.02N multilayer coatings were deposited on cemented carbide by arc ion plating. The effects of yttrium addition and multilayer interface on structure, high-temperature oxidation and corrosion behaviors of the coatings were investigated. The oxidation of the coatings was carried out in a tube furnace in air at 900 °C for 2 h. The corrosion resistance of the coatings was investigated using a potentiodynamic polarization test. The morphology, elemental composition and phase structure of the coatings were determined by SEM, TEM, EDS and XRD. The multilayer structure and the yttrium addition produced refinement of the average grain sizes and densification of the microstructure. The TEM image of the Al0.67Ti0.33N and Al0.65Ti0.33Y0.02N show a nano-multilayer architecture attributed to the difference in ionization rates of Ti and Al. After the oxidation at 900 °C in air for 2 h, the oxidation resistance of the Al0.67Ti0.33N/Al0.65Ti0.33Y0.02N multilayer and the Al0.65Ti0.33Y0.02N coatings was higher than that of the Y-free Al0.67Ti0.33N. In addition, the Al0.67Ti0.33N/Al0.65Ti0.33Y0.02N multilayer coated specimen exhibits a low corrosion current density of 2.24 × 10−5 A/cm2 and a higher corrosion potential of 1.10 V, indicating the superior corrosion resistance. •Both multilayer structure and Y addition produce grain refinement and densification of the AlTiN.•A self-organized nano-multilayer architecture can be observed in the coatings.•Significant improvement in oxidation resistance is achieved by Y addition.•Both adding Y and introducing multilayer microstructure improve the corrosion resistance of the AlTiN.