Tribo-mechanical properties of reactive magnetron sputtered transition metal carbide coatings

Hard and wear resistant coatings are useful to enhance the functional properties and improve the lifetime of mechanical components. This study proposes a relationship between microstructure and tribo-mechanical properties of TiC, CrC, ZrC and WC transition metal carbide coatings. In these coatings, an amorphous carbon (a-C) matrix phase coexists with a crystalline TMC phase. Superior wear resistance of ZrC coatings followed by the TiC coating was observed and this was explained by improved crystallinity and a-C phase present in coatings. Wear mechanisms were proposed by chemical analysis of wear tracks using micro Raman spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.