(Ti,Al)N Film on Normalized T8 Carbon Tool Steel Prepared by Pulsed High Energy Density Plasma Technique

Under optimized operating parameters, a hard and wear resistant (Ti,Al)N film is prepared on a normalized T8 carbon tool steel substrate by using pulsed high energy density plasma technique. Microstructure and composition of the film are analysed by x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Hardness profile and
tribological properties of the film are tested with nano-indenter and ring-on-ring wear tester, respectively. The tested results show that the microstructure of the film is dense and uniform and is mainly composed of (Ti,Al)N and AlN hard phases. A wide transition interface exists between the film and the normalized T8 carbon tool steel substrate. Thickness of the film is about 1000nm and mean hardness value of the film is about 26GPa. Under dry sliding wear test conditions, relative wear resistance of the (Ti,Al)N film is
approximately 9 times higher than that of the hardened T8 carbon tool steel reference sample. Meanwhile, the (Ti,Al)N film has low and stable friction coefficient compared with the hardened T8 carbon tool steel reference sample.