Relationship between erosion resistance and the phase and chemical composition of PVD coatings deposited onto high-speed steel

This paper presents results of investigations regarding the erosion resista nce of TiN and Ti(C,N) PVD coatings deposited onto W-Mo-V high-speed steel of 9-2-2 + Si and 11-2-2 + Si type with Nh or Ti additions. Quantitative me tallography methods as well as mass loss and the 3D measurements of craters created are employed to evaluate the erosion resistance of the investigate d coatings. Ti(C,N) coatings attain double erosion resistance compared to T iN coatings. The influence of surface topography on the erosion resistance of PVD vacuum-are method coatings is described. It was found that the inves tigated coatings are not affected by the type of high-speed steel constitut ing the substrate. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.