Alumina and titanium carbide coatings depositied by ionisation assisted reactive physical vapour deposition.

Titanium carbide and aluminium/oxygen compound coatings were deposited by a thermionically assisted triode ion plating system. Coatings were tested using a pin on disc method. The TiC coatings were found to have tribological properties similar to CVD coatings of the same material. The coefficient of friction against steel was low, though not as low as against TiN. The deposition of the alpha alumina phase proved to be difficult; also an intermetallic aluminium/iron phase was produced at the interface on steel substrates. (A)