Author : S K Harisha, J R Natraj and R Chandra Kumar

This paper deals with the characterization of TiAlN and TiN thin film coating over the high speed steel substrate. TiAlN and TiN coatings were done using two different processes in an effort to compare the coating properties of the two processes. The two processes employed are cathodic arc evaporation technique and the ion beam deposition technique. The coated material was subjected to different types of tests to determine their properties. The thickness of TiAlN coated over high speed steel found to be 1.4 microns and the thickness of TiN was found to be 2.9 microns. The microstructure of the coated and uncoated material were studied, it was evident that the substrate contains large and small particles of carbide in a matrix of tempered martensite. The scratch test was conducted in order to determine the maximum scratch load the coating can withstand, the value of TiAlN was found to be 4 kg and the value of scratch load the TiN coating withstood was 3.8kg. This proves that the TiAlN coating is more resistant to scratches.

Keywords: Coating, Ion beam, Cathodic Ion Deposition etc.

Article published in International Journal of  Advance Industrial  Engineering, Vol.1,No.3 (Dec- 2013)