Abstract
The paper deals with experimental evaluation of properties of PVD coatings. TiAlN, TiAlN/CrN and CrN coatings were deposited by ARC technology onto steel substrates, types S600, K190 Microclean and Vanadis 4 – Super Clean. The (TiAl)N/a-Si3N4 (thereinafter nACo) coating was deposited by advanced PVD procedure - LARC (LAteral Rotating ARC-Cathodes). Nanocomposite coatings (nACo) prepared by PVD technology based on low voltage arc and using two cylindrical central cathodes, which were made from Ti and AlSi. The surface of nanocomposite layer contained lower proportion of macro-particles compared to the Ti-Al -Cr- N layers which provided a guarantee of lower roughness and better quality of the respective layer. The coated systems were evaluated by a scratch test. Results of the test were documented by the graphical record of acoustic emission AE, friction coefficient and metallographic analysis on specimen surface produced by the test.