Evaluation of the mechanical properties and tribological behavior of the CrN coating deposited on mild steel modified with electroless Ni interlayer

Electroless nickel (EN) deposits were plated onto mild steel followed by th e rf magnetron sputtered chromium nitride thin film. Mechanical properties and tribological behavior of the duplex and single coating assemblies, incl uding CrN, as-deposited EN and heat-treated EN on mild steel were examined. A significant increase of the surface hardness of the CrN on mild steel (C rN/MS) assembly was achieved by the addition of the EN interlayer. The stre ngthening of the CrN/MS coating system by the modification of the interlaye r was evidenced through the indentation behavior analysis. It was also obse rved that the EN interlayer acted as a suitable underlying material beneath chromium nitride film to provide the required load-supporting ability for the CrN/MS coating composite during the dry pin-on-disc sliding process. (C ) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.