Comparative study of PVD - TiAlN coated carbide in dry sliding against steels and cast iron

The principle aim of this investigation is to assess the tribological behaviour of the monolayer TiAlN-coated carbide specimen deposited using the PVD method in unidirectional dry sliding. Investigations were performed under varying sliding velocity and normal load. Three different materials of various machinability rates were used as the counter-specimens; the normalised medium carbon steel equivalent to AISI 1045, austenitic stainless steel equivalent to AISI 304 and grey cast iron with flake-shaped graphite and the hardness of about 220 HB. A cylinder-on-disc device for friction and wear tests was used to conduct experiments in which both the friction coefficient and the linear wear of the tribo-pair were recorded versus sliding distance. The volumetric wear rate was used as a parameter for a quantitative comparison of the wear resistance of the tribo-pairs tested. Light-optical microscopy (LOM) was applied for observations of wear products and predominant mechanisms occurred. Three different observed for each rubbing material combination, specific frictional bebaviours and wear mechanisms were distinguished and discussed.