Ding Haiqin, Lingling Cui, Tongchun Qin, Dejun Kong
CrAlTiN coating was deposited on 316 stainless steel using an arc ion plating (AIP), and the microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties of CrAlTiN coating were systematically investigated. The results show that the coating exhibits the dense columnar structure with the solid-solution strengthened multicomponent nitride phases, and its high hardness and elastic modulus indicate the strong resistance to plastic deformation. The friction and wear behaviors are the strongly temperature dependent, and the formation of protective oxide layer is composed of Al 2 O 3 and TiO 2 , contributing to the reduced wear rates at elevated temperatures. The dominant wear mechanisms, including abrasive and oxidative wear, are identified, and the role of microstructural features in improving the high-temperature tribological performance is elucidated. This finding provides the insight into the design of multicomponent nitride coatings for the high-temperature applications, offering the guidance for selecting the appropriate operating temperature.