Comparative Study of Tribological and Corrosion Characteristics of TiCN, TiCrCN, and TiZrCN Coatings

Coatings based on titanium carbonitride alloyed with zirconium and chromium were deposited using the method of reactive magnetron sputtering on the surface of titanium VT1–0. The effect of alloying titanium carbonitride with zirconium and chromium on the tribo- and corrosion properties of the coating has been studied. Coatings with different compositions were formed by changing the ratio of alloying elements to titanium in a single target. To study the obtained coatings, a scanning electron microscopy, nanoindentation, sliding wear test (ball on disk method), and corrosion tests in 0.5 M Na2SO4 and 30% NaCl solution were used. As a result of wear and corrosion tests, friction coefficients, mass index, and corrosion rate of alloyed and pure titanium carbonitride coatings were obtained. The average coefficient of friction of the coatings varied in the range of 0.17–0.31. The values of nanohardness are determined depending on the composition of the coatings. From corrosion data, it is determined that TiCrCN and TiZrCN coatings exhibit better corrosion properties compared to TiCN coatings. As a result of the dependences obtained, the preferred composition of the coating, the most resistant to wear and corrosion damage, was revealed.