Influence of the preliminary irradiation upon transitional layer formation in the titanium coating—steel system

Abstract The influence of substrate irradiation by argon ions before plasma deposition of a titanium coating on its physical and mechanical properties was considered. The samples were investigated by glancing X-ray diffraction, scratch adhesion and friction coefficient measurements. It was shown that the proposed technology of the substrate surface treatment allows the improvement of the titanium film adhesion and to increase its wear resistance up to 80%. An improvement of the mechanical properties of the Ti-steel system is accounted for by the intensification of Ti diffusion into the substrate at the expense of the preliminary irradiation with Ar + ions.