Improved anti-wear performance of nanostructured titanium boron nitride coatings

Titanium boron nitride coatings were synthesized by ion beam assisted sputt er deposition. Structural analysis showed that the coatings had a composite structure comprising nanosized TiB2/TiN crystallites and a thin layer matr ix of hexagonal BN. Although, the hardness of these Ti-B-N coatings was gen erally lower than that of pure TiB2, improved anti-wear performance was obs erved. This improvement is explained by the beneficial configuration of har d nanoparticles embedded in a soft. lubricating matrix, which increases the coating's capability to dissipate stress without brittle fracture. Effects of process parameters, such as bombarding energy and nitrogen how rate wer e also thoroughly studied. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.