Effect of N2/Ar Ratio on Wear Behavior of Multi-Element Nitride Coatings on AISI H13 Tool Steel

In this study, multi-element nitride coatings composed of (Ti, Cr, Cu, Al, Si)N were synthesized on H13 tool steel using cathodic arc deposition (CAD) technology. The N2/Ar flow ratio varied from 0 to 2 as the experimental parameter, and two targets, Ti-Cr-Cu and Al-Si alloys, were utilized simultaneously. The impact of the gas flow ratio on the coatings’ abrasion properties was investigated, focusing on aspects, such as chemical composition, adhesion, hardness, and wear behavior. The experimental findings indicate that the coated specimens with a nitrogen reaction exhibit superior hardness and abrasion resistance compared to those without nitrogen use. While the surface roughness of the specimens tends to increase slightly with a higher N2/Ar ratio, the coating demonstrates improved hardness, adhesion, and abrasion resistance performance. In summary, the wear-resistant characteristics of H13 tool steel can be significantly enhanced when applying a CAD-(Ti, Cr, Cu, Al, Si)N film with a flow ratio of N2/Ar = 2.