EFFECT OF DEPOSITION PARAMETERS ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF TIN FILMS COATED ON 2A12 ALUMINUM ALLOYS BY ARC ION PLATING (AIP)

Abstract

TiN films were deposited on 2A12 aluminum alloys by arc ion plating (AIP). Parameters of bias voltage, nitrogen gas pressure were changed to examine their influence on the hardness and abrasive wear properties of the films. Vickers hardness tests reveled that high values of the films were obtained at a bias voltage of –30 V and a N₂ gas pressure of 0.5 Pa. Dry and wet rubber wheel abrasive tests were conducted to assess the abrasive wear properties. It was found that the abrasive wear rate was greatly reduced with the introduction of TiN coatings. The effects of bias voltage on the hardness of substrates during deposition process, and its influence on the surface roughness of TiN films were also reported.