Cathodic Arc Evaporation of Self-Lubricating TiSiVN Coatings

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of V addition into TiSiN coatings deposited by an industrial-scale cathodic arc evaporation system on the structure and mechanical-tribological properties. X-ray diffraction patterns and Raman spectra confirm the formation of a solid solution presenting the fcc NaCl-type structure without a preferred orientation for both TiSiN and TiSiVN coatings. The addition of V did not affect the coating's hardness but induces a half-reduction in the coefficient of friction during the dry sliding tests. The wear mechanism changed from abrasive to mild-adhesive due to the inclusion of V, suggesting a reduction in the wear rate that might be of interest for dry cutting tools.