SLIDING WEAR-RESISTANCE OF TOOL STEEL COATED WITH ELECTROLESS NI-P AND CATHODIC ARC PLASMA TIN

A wear-resistant hybrid-coating technique combining electroless Ni-P plating and cathodic arc plasma TiN deposition was used to coat a composite layer on SKD11 tool steel. The wear rate (based on surface profile and weight loss) and friction coefficient were assessed using a Felex 6 wear tester; also, the washer-on-disk method was used to evaluate the sliding wear resistance. Experimental results and analysis showed that such a hybrid coating could provide a better load-carrying capacity than a single TiN layer. A reduction in cracking and spalling of the hybrid-coating layers was observed during wear.