Features of self‐organization in nanostructuring PVD coatings on a base of polyvalent metal nitrides under severe tribological conditions

Abstract Applications of quaternary nitride nanomultilayered coatings result in a significant improvement in tool life as well as wear behavior of ball nose end mills under conditions of high‐speed machining of hardened steels. Features of self‐organization in the nanostructuring monolayer (Al 67 Ti 33 )N and nanolaminate multilayer (AlCrTi)N/(CrN, WN or NbN) physical vapor deposition (PVD) coatings have been investigated under severe frictional conditions associated with high temperatures and stresses, which are typical for high‐speed cutting (HSC). Structure and phase transformations on wear surface have been studied using XPS. Wear behavior of the coating has been investigated under severe conditions of HSC of 1040 steel. Results show that the enhancement of nonequilibrium processes during friction leads to a dominating formation of protective triboceramics on the basis of sapphire‐like and tungsten and niobium polyvalent oxides with the structure that improves the wear performance critically. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.