Atomic Force Microscope, Nanoindentation, and Tribological Performances of Arc Ion‐Plated AlTiSiN and AlCrSiN Coatings under Dry‐Friction Condition

The tribological performance of hard coatings is crucial for their use in lubricant‐free application, which governs the frictional characteristics, wear resistance, and long‐term reliability under dry‐friction conditions. In this study, AlTiSiN and AlCrSiN coatings are deposited on Ti6Al4V alloy using arc ion plating with ternary AlTi(Cr)Si alloy targets. The effects of Ti and Cr incorporations on the morphologies, elemental distributions, surface topographies, and nanohardness of the AlTiSiN and AlCrSiN coatings are investigated, and the friction and wear behaviors are examined through the ball‐on‐disc tests to analyze the underlying wear mechanisms. The AlTiSiN and AlCrSiN coatings exhibit the B1‐NaCl crystal structure, which are strongly bonded to the substrates. The AlTiSiN coating with the higher hardness presents the lower wear rate due to its enhanced plasticity and elastic modulus. In contrast, the AlCrSiN demonstrates the lower wear resistance under the dry‐friction condition, and the wear loss is mainly caused by the abrasion wear and minor adhesion wear. These findings provide valuable guidance for selecting the quaternary coatings for the applications requiring high wear resistance and mechanical properties.