Análise dos modos de falha do revestimento de AlCrN depositado por PVD sobre H13

Abstract

Moulds, dies and cutting tools are subject to high mechanical stress and/or thermal stress that, over time, result in failure in such tooling. In the manufacturing process of such tools there are several steps and, among them, surface finishing has an influence in adherence and can generate failures in protective coatings that are generally used under heavy duty conditions. Consequently, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of different abrasives (sandpaper and abrasive stone) and different surface preparation processes (glass bead stripping and electropolishing) in the failure mechanisms of the coatings. AISI H13 steel samples were subject to vacuum quenching thermal treatment and the surfaces were prepared with different polishing techniques and finally coated with AlCrN by physical vapour deposition (PVD). The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nanoindentation tests, Rockwell tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray induced photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XRD results evinced typical diffraction peaks for this coating without traces from the substrate. Rockwell indentations revealed differences in the coating failures modes. The critical loads (LC) in the test were evaluated after coating cracking (LC1) and after delamination (LC2). The substrates polished by sulphur-impregnated grinding stone presented the lowest LC2 values when compared to the other systems. EDS analysis performed in the regions where delamination occurred revealed the presence of sulphur. The XPS technique corroborated the presence of sulphur and was used to estimate that the content of that element in the surface is about 16% at. Thus, the use of sulphur-impregnated grinding stone before the application of PVD coatings is not recommended and a delamination mechanism is proposed.