Friction-Wear Characterization of Cathodic Arc Ion Plated CrC Coating under Different Lubrication Conditions

Abstract

A CrC coating was deposited on YT14 cutting tools using a cathodic arc ion plating. The surface and cross-section morphologies, chemical elements and phases of obtained CrC coating were analyzed using a field emission scanning electron microscope, energy disperse spectrometer, and X-ray diffractometer. The tribological properties of CrC coating under the dry, water and oil lubrication conditions were investigated using a wear test, the effects of lubrication conditions on the friction coefficient and wear properties of CrC coatings were also discussed. The results show that, the average friction coefficient of CrC coating under the dry, water, and oil lubrication conditions are 0.76, 0.11, and 0.35, respectively, the wear mechanism is abrasive wear. The average residual stresses of worn tracks under the dry, water, and oil lubrication conditions are −231.1 ± 25.0, −210.4 ± 23.0, and −205.9 ± 2.0 MPa, respectively, of which the stress value under the oil lubrication condition is the smallest, showing its reduction wear property.