CORROSION AND WEAR PROPERTIES OF MULTIPURPOSE COATINGS DEPOSITED BY ION-BEAM-ASSISTED DEPOSITION

Electrochemical measurements and wear tests were performed on aluminiu m and aluminium alloy coating containing magnesium for uniform and loc al pitting corrosion protection of low carbon steel substrates. Final hard chromium nitride and aluminium nitride layers were deposited at t he surface of the protective films in order to lower friction and wear . The results show that wear and corrosion protection can be improved by use of bifunctional multilayers. The coatings for multipurpose appl ication were generated by ion-beam-assisted deposition. The defined in trinsic film stress controlled by the ion-to-atom arrival ratio influe nces the corrosion properties. Increasing the ion-to-atom ratios usual ly improves the corrosion resistance.