Tribological behaviour of N-or O-doped austenitic stainless-steel magnetron sputter-deposited coatings

摘要

N-, O- and N-O-doped stainless-steel coatings (SS{sub}N, SS{sub}O, SS{sub}(NO)) were deposited via reactive magnetron sputtering. Vickers indentation as well as single pass and triboscopic multipass scratch testing were carried out on thesecoatings in order to establish a relation between their brittleness and their tribological behaviour. These tests clearly demonstrate a structure-brittleness relationship. Contact interface chemistry influences the coating-substrate-composite damagebehaviour. Despite a low friction coefficient, SS{sub}O brittleness is 'catastrophic' for tribological applications. SS{sub}N ductility is associated with rapid adhesive transfer layer formation and high friction but moderate wear. SS{sub}(NO) sequencedtreatment yields the best behaviour: low friction, low coating wear and low adhesive material pick-up on the pin as well as negligible plastic deformation of the substrate.