Microstructure and tribological properties of CrVN thin film coated WC‐Co tool after boriding process

The tribological performance of the tungsten carbide substrate (WC‐Co), improved by ceramic coatings, is still being reported in new studies that have been carried out to date. It has become a hot research topic that are widely applied in hard material research, especially in the tools manufacturing fields. This study was conducted to investigate the wear characteristics of a commercial cemented carbide tool (WC‐Co) coated with a physical vapor deposition chromium‐vanadium nitride film (CrVN), followed by a boriding process as a final thermochemical treatment. Tested in dry sliding contact against an alumina ball as a static partner, the tribological responses of the specimen were analyzed and compared with an uncoated specimen. Friction coefficients, calculated from volume loss, were around .58 for all specimens except the uncoated specimen at 10 N of applied load. Wear scar analyses revealed the occurrence of several wear mechanisms that is polishing, oxidation, wear debris formation, surface binder removal, grain fragmenting, and grain pull‐out.