Preparation and property characterization of WS₂ coatings deposited on micro-nano textured surfaces of cemented carbide at different WS₂ target currents

WS₂ coatings were deposited on a micro-nano textured surface of cemented carbide by means of medium-frequency magnetron sputtering, multi-arc ion plating and ion-beam-assisted deposition techniques. The effects of different WS₂ target currents on the physical properties of the WS₂ coating then were investigated. Furthermore, the mechanisms of soft WS₂ coatings deposited on an untextured plain surface versus a micro-nano textured surface in the scratch test were evaluated. The results showed that when the WS₂ target current was 1 A, the morphology of the periodic coated micro-nano textures was the clearest, the WS₂ (002) crystal face of the type-II texture (c-axis perpendicular to substrate) demonstrated the best coating crystallization and the coating/substrate critical load was the largest among the five samples. It was also discovered that the WS₂ soft coating formed a lubricating film on the micro-nano textured surface that reduced coating spallation and brittle fracture during the scratch test. It was concluded therefore that the soft WS₂ coating on the micro-nano textured surface effectively improved the coating/substrate critical load value.