Duplex process applied for die-casting and forging tools

PACVD hard coatings are well known for providing surfaces with enhanced tribological properties in terms of low friction and high wear resistance. Duplex treatments consisting of plasma nitriding and hard PACVD coating have proven to be successful in improving wear, fatigue and corrosion resistance and the load-carrying capability of steel substrates. In this study the development of a duplex process is described, which consists of plasma nitriding (PN) followed by PACVD of boron-containing hard coatings [Ti(B,N), TiB2]. The influence of variation of the compound layer on the layer/substrate adhesion was investigated. Within this work, different types of nanostructured and nanocomposite hard coatings produced by PACVD [Ti(B,N), TiB2] on nitrided tools were tested in aluminum or magnesium die casting, and aluminum extrusion and forging applications.