Galling mechanisms during interaction of tool steel and Al–Si coated ultra-high strength steel at elevated temperature

Occurrence of galling in hot forming is detrimental to the quality of produced parts and process economy. Material transfer from Al–Si coated work-piece to the tool material has been studied in this work. PVD coatings (AlCrN, TiAlN and DLC) on tool steel substrate have been considered as well as plasma nitriding and their tribological behaviour was compared to the case of an untreated tool steel. Galling initiates through accumulation and compaction of wear debris when untreated tools are used whereas the PVD coatings resulted in increased galling due to adhesion. Plasma nitrided tool steel showed negligible galling due to formation of glaze layers and the formation of such layers depends on the occurrence of wear of the nitrided tool steel.