Mechanical and Tribological Properties of CrCN, CrAlN, and CrAlCN Coatings Deposited on Tungsten Carbide Substrates by High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering Technology

CrCN, CrAlN, and CrAlCN series coatings were deposited on WC substrates using a high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) system with various nitrogen, aluminum, and carbon flow rates. The effects of the aluminum, nitrogen, and carbon contents on the microstructures, mechanical properties, and tribological properties of the coatings were systematically explored. The results showed that the CrC5N30, CrAl150N30, and CrAl150C5N30 coatings exhibited the best mechanical and tribological properties within their respective series. Among all the coatings, the CrAl150C5N30 coating, with the lowest Al content of 2.4 at.%, showed the highest hardness (46.6 GPa) and adhesion strength (Lc2>100 N) and the best tribological performance. Notably, the CrAl150C5N30 coating demonstrated a better wear resistance than the uncoated WC substrate, thereby indicating its potential as an effective coating material for the protection of WC substrates and cutting tools in industrial practice.