Potential of photon and particle beams for surface treatment of thin ceramic coatings

Laser irradiation and ion implantation have been investigated in order to modify in a two-step process the characteristics of TiN ceramic coatings obtained by physical vapour deposition (PVD) on steel surface. Depending on the beam properties and processing variables used, material modifications can be induced either in the coating itself, at the coating/substrate interface or in the underlying substrate material. Laser irradiation and ion implantation offer possibilities of tailoring the functional surface properties of coated steels with respect to friction and wear resistance by the modification of surface roughness, by the alloying of ceramic coatings with either metallic or metalloid elements, and by inducing substrate hardening.