WEAR MECHANISM OF DUPLEX-COATED P/M VANADIS 6 LEDEBURITIC STEEL

The wear mechanism of duplex-coated P/M Vanadis 6 ledeburitic steel was investigated. Duplex layering by plasma nitriding and PVD CrN coating increased the wear resistance substantially however, the scattering of the results was too large. The samples differed in the adhesion of the PVD overlay to the nitrided substrate and showed a very different wear resistance and wear mechanism, too. The specimens with good adhesion showed a critical load needed for coating delamination of more than 130 N, low wear, a relatively little damaged PVD layer, and a rapid wear of counterparts. smaller, the wear rate increased rapidly and the worn surface showed symptoms of massive cracking and a total collapse of the coating, a strong decrease of the friction coefficient, and of the wear rate of the counterparts.