Effect of the deposition and thickness parameters of titanium nitride (TiN) coatings on the fatigue strength

The effect of vacuum-plasma coatings of titanium nitride (TiN) on the fatigue strength of titanium VT1-0 is investigated in terms of the coating deposition and thickness parameters. The analysis of the obtained results is performed with the goal of improving the required fatigue strength of the base material–coating composition. It is shown that in all the investigated cases, TiN coatings enhance the fatigue strength. The optimum range of coating thicknesses is established, in which the change in the deposition conditions influences slightly the fatigue limit. A satisfactory agreement is noted between the experimental and calculated values of fatigue limits obtained using the calculation model earlier proposed by the authors. The principal possibility of essential increasing the fatigue strength has been discussed and confirmed in the case of formation of ultra-thin coatings under well-defined conditions of their deposition.