Tribological studies of reactive magnetron sputtered titanium aluminium nitride (TiAlN) coatings

Abstract

Ternary TiAlN coatings were deposited on brass substrates by magnetron sputtering method. This paper is focused to study the effect of nitrogen:argon (N2:Ar) gas ratio on tribological properties of TiAlN coatings. TiAlN coatings displayed (1 0 1) peak at N2:Ar gas ratio value of 08:02. The evolution of single (1 0 3) peak for TiAlN coating was observed when the N2:Ar gas ratio values were 08:00, 08:02, 08:5.2 and 08:12. The characterization of TiAlN coatings was studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The evolution of well-crystalline structure of TiAlN coatings is observed with increase in N2:Ar gas ratio from 08:00 to 08:12. The tribological properties of TiAlN coatings were tested by pin on disc tribometer at different values of load and sliding distance.