Improving the tribological behavior of CrN film by PVD/HVOF design

Herein, CrN/WC-12Co duplex coatings were fabricated using physical vapor deposition (PVD) and high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) technologies. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological behavior of these coatings were studied and compared with those of a single CrN film. Although the WC-12Co interlayer did not change the phase structure of the top CrN film, it significantly improved the hardness, Young's modulus, loadbearing capability, and bonding strength. The wear resistance of the CrN/WC-12Co duplex system was twice that of a single CrN film. Moreover, the WC-12Co interlayer changed the wear mechanism from fatigue and polishing wear of single CrN film to the polishing wear of CrN/WC-12Co duplex coating.