In this study, CrYN coatings were prepared using multi-arc ion plating at various substrate bias voltages (−50 V, −100 V, −150 V, and −200 V). X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the composition and microstructure of the coatings. An electrochemical workstation and a ball-on-disk tribometer were used to investigate their corrosion and friction behavior. The results show that grain refinement can be achieved through the addition of yttrium (Y) and that the surfaces of coatings prepared under different bias voltages have varying smoothness and compactness. It was shown that surfaces prepared under −100 V bias voltages were relatively smooth and dense in structure, corresponding to a Y content of 2.83 at.%; CrYN coatings at −100 V were shown to have the highest corrosion potential and a low self-corrosion current, equating to superior corrosion resistance. Additionally, the friction coefficients of deposited CrYN coatings under bias voltages of −100 V were less than 0.2. Therefore, the coatings under bias voltages of −100 V had the minimum wear rate due to its structure, corrosion resistance, and friction.

CrYN, TiBN, and CrYN/TiBN coatings were successfully deposited on 316 stainless steel substrates via multi-arc ion plating techniques to improve their wear and corrosion resistance properties in marine environments. The morphology, microstructure, friction performance, and corrosion resistance of the three coatings in artificial seawater were systematically studied. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy investigations confirmed a dominant face-centered cubic CrN structure, accompanied by hexagonal TiB2 and amorphous BN in CrYN/TiBN coatings. The SEM cross-section shows that the TiBN and CrYN/TiBN coatings have a more compact cross-sectional structure than the CrYN monolayer coating. The CrYN/TiBN coatings exhibited the lowest smooth friction coefficient in artificial seawater, and the wear rate was ranked as TiBN<CrYN/TiBN<CrYN. Surface morphological studies performed after tribocorrosion revealed that the protection ability of all three coatings remained acceptable. The electrochemical test showed that the corrosion tendency was CrYN/TiBN<TiBN<CrYN, and the CrYN/TiBN coating had the best performance in the AC impedance spectrum and polarization curve.&#xD;