A study was performed to compare the performance of a series of wear-resistant coatings deposited by chrome plating / electroplating, physical vapor deposition (PVD) and the Ion Beam Enhanced Deposition (IBED) processes. The interest was to determine these coatings’ effectiveness for extending the operating life of precision pharmaceutical tooling. The coatings included: electroplated industrial hard chrome; PVD-deposited titanium nitride (TiN) and diamond-like carbon (DLC); and IBED-deposited titanium nitride (TiN). Properties measured included coating adhesion, durability and abrasive wear rate.
ADHESION / DURABILITY COMPARISON –
A qualitative measurement of hardcoating durability and adhesion can be made using a Rockwell “C” indent test (VDI Guideline 3198 Procedure). Coatings are deposited on a polished, hardened steel coupon (Rc>60) to a thickness of between 1 and 3 microns. A standard Rockwell diamond indenter is used to indent the surface for a “C” scale measurement (150 Kg). This steel coupon is similar in hardness and material type to the precision pharmaceutical tooling that can benefit from wear-resistant wholesale indoor powder coating for sale , including punches and dies, tamping pins, and compacting rollers.
The indented area is examined at a magnification of 200X and the cracking pattern in the coating is observed. Hardcoatings with good cohesion show little or no fracture lines extending radially from the center of the indent outward towards and beyond the perimeter of the circular indent. Also, no cracked islands appear in the indent crater or along the crater perimeter. Hardcoatings with good adhesion show no delamination of the coating, either in the crater or adjacent to the coating perimeter.
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