Advanced Ceramics Progress

Advanced Ceramics Progress

Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Ti-6Al-4V by Deposition of Multilayered Coating with PACVD Technique

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors
Ali Newpour 1
Milad Kazemi 2
Masoud Rajabi 3
Hamed Ghorbani 4
1 MSc Candidate, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Faculty of Technology and Engineering, Imam Khomeini International University (IKIU), Qazvin, Iran.
2 MSc Candidate, School of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Iran.
3 Professor, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Faculty of Technology and Engineering, Imam Khomeini International University (IKIU), Qazvin, Iran.
4 Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Buein Zahra Technical University (BZTE), Buein Zahra, Qazvin, Iran.
10.30501/acp.2026.528459.1178
Abstract
In this investigation, gradient interlayers of diamond-like carbon (DLC) and titanium carbonitride (TiCN) were applied to a titanium-based alloy (Ti6Al4V) using the PACVD (plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition) technique to enhance its performance characteristics. The TiCN interlayer played a crucial role in increasing hardness, elastic modulus (Er), and interfacial bonding strength. Extending the TiCN deposition duration from 2 to 3 hours led to improved DLC adhesion and resulted in a nanocomposite coating thickness of ~1 μm. Mechanical properties were assessed through nanoindentation, hardness measurements, and adhesion evaluations, while tribological behavior was examined via pin-on-disk (POD) wear testing. Surface morphology and wear mechanisms were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. The coated Ti6Al4V substrate demonstrated reduced indentation depth (192 nm), hardness values ranging from 3.8 to 4.7 GPa, and a broader distribution of elastic modulus (136–171 GPa). Frictional behavior of the coated samples showed fluctuating coefficients of friction (µ), attributed to the multilayer structure, whereas the uncoated substrate maintained a relatively stable µ around 0.23. Wear rate analysis revealed that the uncoated alloy exhibited a significantly higher average wear rate (8.1×10⁻7 cm³/N·m) compared to the TiCN/DLC-coated variant (4.1×10⁻8 cm³/N·m). Microscopic examination indicated that the coated surface predominantly experienced adhesive wear, while the uncoated surface was subject to abrasive wear mechanisms.
Keywords
Ti6Al4V
Diamond-like Carbon
TiCN
Coating
PACVD
Wear

Subjects

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  • Receive Date 07 June 2025
  • Revise Date 17 November 2025
  • Accept Date 21 December 2025