Nano-mechanical and Tribological Behavior of TiN and TiB₂ Coatings Deposited on Ti-6Al-4V Alloy by Radio Frequency Magnetron Sputtering

This study presents the tribological performance of titanium nitride and titanium diboride coatings on Ti6Al4V alloy, deposited using radio frequency magnetron sputtering. Various characterization techniques such as x-ray diffraction, 3D-profilometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy were used to analyze the developed coating’s composition and microstructure. Nanoindentation assessed hardness, elastic modulus, and resistance to plastic deformation. Friction and wear coefficients were measured at room temperature (25 °C) and elevated temperature (250 °C) using a universal tribometer. Results showed that both the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear coefficient decreased at 250 °C, with TiB₂ exhibiting the lowest values (COF 0.21, wear coefficient 4.40 × 10⁻⁴ mm³/N.m). The analysis suggests that depositing a TiB₂ coating on Ti6Al4V alloy enhances service life and provides greater durability in machine components, cutting tools, and aerospace applications.