Production and characterization of wear resistant Ti(C,N) coatings manufactured by modified chemical vapor deposition process

Wear resistant Ti(C,N) coatings were produced by changing the heating rate during the chemical vapor deposition process (CVD). The modification of the CVD process led to the formation of Ti(C,N) coatings with a particulate grain architecture consisting of two different crystallites (star-shaped and lenticular-like morphologies) co-existing in the coating layer. The microstructure formation of the Ti(C,N) layer was investigated by interrupting the CVD process at different temperatures. Depending on the deposition temperature, rounded, star-shaped and/or lenticular-like crystallites formed. The overall C/N ratio of the Ti(C,N) layer was 0.16/0.84, as determined by x-ray diffraction. TEM/EELS investigations of Ti(C,N) crystallites revealed an inhomogeneous distribution of carbon and nitrogen in the grains. Cutting tests showed outstanding wear resistance of the Ti(C,N) layers produced by the modified CVD process.