PROPERTIES OF CHROMIUM NITRIDE COATINGS DEPOSITED BY CATHODIC ARC EVAPORATION

CrN coatings deposited at 200-230-degrees-C (low temperature) and 480- 540-degrees-C (high temperature) onto high speed steel were investigat ed by determining the microhardness, surface roughness and adhesion, a s well as using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. It was found that the coatings deposited at lower temperatures exhibi t higher hardnesses than those produced at higher deposition temperatu res. Both coatings exhibit good adhesion and a dense structure morphol ogy. Bulk X-ray diffraction studies show that, in both cases, the prev alent crystallographic orientation is [220].