Tribological Behavior of AlCrSiN-Coated Tool Steel K340 Versus Popular Tool Steel Grades

Abstract

The tribological performance of metalwork steel tools is of vital importance in both cold and hot working processes. One solution for improving metal tool life is the application of coatings. This paper investigates the differences in quantitative wear behavior and wear mechanisms between AlCrSiN-coated and bare steel K340 and five reference tool steels: X155CrVMo12-1, X37CrMoV5-1, X40CrMoV5-1, 40CrMnMo7 and 90MnCrV8. The investigated tool steels were heat-treated, while K340 was subjected to thermochemical treatment and then coated with an AlCrSiN hard film (K340/AlCrSiN). The hardness, chemical composition, phase structure and microstructure of steels K340 and K340/AlCrSiN were examined. Tribological tests were conducted using the ball-on-disc tester in compliance with the ASTM G99 standard. The tests were performed under dry unidirectional sliding conditions, using an Al2O3 ball as a counterbody. The wear factor and coefficient of friction were estimated and analyzed with respect to hardness and alloying composition of the materials under study. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations were made to identify the sliding wear mechanisms of the analyzed tool steels and physical vapor deposition (PVD)- coated K340 steel. In contrast to the harsh abrasive–adhesive wear mechanism observed for uncoated tool steels, the abrasive wear dominates in case of the AlCrSiN. The deposited thin film effectively prevents the K340 substrate from harsh wear severe degradation. Moreover, thanks to the deposited coating, the K340/AlCrSiN sample has a coefficient of friction (COF) of 0.529 and a wear factor of K=5.68×10−7 m3 N−1 m−1, while the COF of the reference tool steels ranges from 0.70 to 0.89 and their wear factor ranges from 1.68×10−5 to 3.67×10−5 m3 N−1 m−1. The AlCrSiN deposition reduces the wear of the K340 steel and improves its sliding properties, which makes it a promising method for prolonging the service life of metalwork tools.

The Effect of Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High Boron Steel

“…In addition, many non-shedding oxidized wear adhesive particles are produced on the worn surface during the wear process ( Figure 12 b), which will hinder the wear process and improve wear resistance of the steel. It is comparable to the results of Kazimierz et al [ 38 ] on the tribological behavior that AlCrSiN-Coated Tool Steel K340, that is, a large number of relatively large carbides constitute a natural obstacle to the counter body material, and the adhesive wear makes the wear rate of the sample lower than the abrasive wear, as demonstrated in the literature [ 39 ].…”

Effect of Microstructure and Hardness on Cavitation Erosion and Dry Sliding Wear of HVOF Deposited CoNiCrAlY, NiCoCrAlY and NiCrMoNbTa Coatings

“…In other words, utilised test conditions allow obtaining reliable tribological results for the as-sprayed coatings. Nonetheless, the investigated HVOF coatings present inferior wear behaviour compared to other MCrAlY, and NiCrMo mostly tested at elevated temperatures [ 13 , 22 , 63 ], as well as to ceramic [ 10 , 45 ], metallic [ 44 , 46 ] materials tested at the same load at ambient temperature.…”

“…In order to compare the wear resistance of as-sprayed HVOF coatings with other engineering materials tested by our group [ 44 , 45 , 46 ] the ball-on-disc method was employed. Wear tests were carried out on a CS-Instruments ball tribotester.…”

The Effect of Surface Topography Feature Size Density and Distribution on the Results of a Data Processing and Parameters Calculation with a Comparison of Regular Methods

“…Laser texturing is one of the machining methods used to prepare a workpiece surface with various microstructures. The tribological behavior [ 34 ] of the contact surface can be affected by surface roughness if the liquid film is formed to have a thickness with the same order of magnitude [ 35 ] and, simultaneously, that can be affected by the texturing of the surface topography. Selected STs produced with laser melting methods (SLM), which improves the surface quality [ 36 ], can be classified within a group of complex textures.…”