The effect of the process gas mixture ratio on the structure and composition of TiC and TiCN thin layers prepared by cathodic arc deposition on tool steel

The presented research introduces the possibilities of setting the parameters of the deposition of thin coatings so that the desired surface properties are achieved. For the examined TiCN and TiC thin coatings, applied by the cathodic arc method (Arc-PVD), the dependence was revealed between the hardness of the coatings, the residual stress, and the wear resistance, which significantly affect the service life of the coated parts. The statistical analysis of the results shows the optimal ratio between nano-hardness and internal stress, at which the least wear of the layer occurs (the ratio of hardness and magnitude of compressive stress must be approximately equal to 10). The research is focused on predicting the utility properties of thin TiCN coatings to reduce the wear of modified surfaces.