Modification of T15K6 hard-alloy surface layers with titanium and zirconium coatings under the action of compression plasma flows

The effect of compression plasma flows (CPFs) with energy densities of 22 and 27 J/cm² on the T15K6 hard-alloy surface with predeposited titanium and zirconium coatings is investigated. It has been ascertained that tungsten nitride (WN) is formed in the surface layers of the systems under study after the action of CPFs in gaseous nitrogen. In the case of the deposition of a zirconium coating, the (Ti, W)C solid solution is alloyed with zirconium. Treatment by CPFs leads to the alloying of the coating and the hard-alloy substrate, generating two types of modified-surface morphology. These types differ in the number of microcraters and pores per unit of surface area. The combined action with energy densities of 22 and 27 J/cm² on a hard alloy enhances its microhardness by a factor of more than 2.6 and 2.2, respectively.