What does this research mean for the field?

Among PVD coatings on AISI H13 tool steel, TiAlN provides superior high-temperature stability and resistance to plastic deformation, whereas DLC delivers the lowest room-temperature wear rate and coefficient of friction. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to assess the tribological performance, microstructural characteristics, and thermal stability of various PVD coatings on AISI H13 tool steel.

May 30, 2026Open Access

Tribological Performance, Microstructural Characterisation and Thermal Stability of PVD-Deposited Hard Coatings (TiN, CrN, TiAlN, DLC) on AISI H13 Tool Steel Substrates

Key Points

This research aims to assess the tribological performance, microstructural characteristics, and thermal stability of various PVD coatings on AISI H13 tool steel.
Evaluated four PVD coatings: TiN, CrN, TiAlN, and DLC on AISI H13 substrate.
Measured coating thickness, hardness, adhesion strength, surface roughness, and coefficient of friction under different loads and speeds.
Analyzed crystallographic structure and elemental composition using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy.
TiAlN maintained a coefficient of friction below 0.40 at 500°C, indicating high-temperature stability.
DLC exhibited the lowest wear rate at room temperature (0.31 × 10⁻⁵ mm³/Nm at 10 N) and a coefficient of friction of 0.13–0.18.
TiAlN showed superior mechanical properties based on H/E* and H³/E*² indices, confirming its suitability for high-temperature forming applications.

Abstract

Hard physical vapour deposition (PVD) coatings applied to hot-work tool steels are indispensable in extending the operational life of cutting tools, forging dies, and injection moulding inserts that operate under conditions of simultaneous high contact stress, elevated temperature, and abrasive or adhesive wear. This study evaluates the tribological performance, mechanical integrity, microstructural characteristics, and thermal stability of four industrially relevant PVD coatings — titanium nitride (TiN), chromium nitride (CrN), titanium aluminium nitride (TiAlN), and diamond-like carbon (DLC) — deposited by magnetron sputtering on AISI H13 hot-work tool steel substrates. Coating thickness (1–4.8 µm range), hardness (1800–5500 HV), Youngs modulus, adhesion strength (scratch test critical loads Lc2 and Lc3), surface roughness, coefficient of friction, wear rate under varying normal load (10–50 N) and sliding speed (0.5–3.0 m/s), and high-temperature tribological behaviour up to 500°C are systematically quantified. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirm coating crystallographic structure and elemental composition. Results demonstrate that TiAlN exhibits the best high-temperature stability — retaining a coefficient of friction below 0.40 at 500°C — while DLC delivers the lowest room-temperature wear rate (0.31 × 10⁻⁵ mm³/Nm at 10 N) and coefficient of friction (0.13–0.18). The H/E* ratio — the plasticity index — and H³/E*² index for elastic strain to failure and resistance to plastic deformation confirm TiAlN as the superior coating for high-temperature forming tool applications. These findings provide practical selection criteria for coating specification in small and medium-scale manufacturing facilities in central and northern India where tool life extension delivers disproportionate productivity gains.

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