Effects of vanadium ion implantation on microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties of TiN coatings

TiN coatings were deposited on the substrates of cemented carbide (WC–TiC–Co) by Magnetic Filter Arc Ion Plating (MFAIP) and then implanted with vanadium through Metal Vacuum Vapor Arc (MEVVA) ion source with the doses of 1 × 1017 and 5 × 1017 ions/cm2 at 40 kV. The microstructures and chemical compositions of the V-implanted TiN coatings were investigated using Glancing Incidence X-ray Diffraction (GIXRD) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), together with the mechanical and tribological properties of coatings were characterized using nano-indentation and ball-on-disk tribometer. It was found that the diffraction peaks of the V-implanted TiN coatings at the doses of 5 × 1017 ions/cm2 shifted to higher angles and became broader. The hardness and elastic modulus of TiN coatings increased after V ion implantation. The wear mechanism for both un-implanted and V-implanted TiN coatings against GCr15 steel ball was adhesive wear, and the V-implanted TiN coatings had a lower friction coefficient as well as a better wear resistance