Microstructure and Wear Corrosion Properties of TiAlN/VN Multilayer Films on Titanium Alloy Connecting Rods

WU Jie; XU Zhaoying; WANG Jiarong; ZHANG Tengfei; WANG Jinbiao; SU Yongyao

doi:10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.08.004

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Surface Technology ›› 2026, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (8) : 45-53. DOI: 10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.08.004

Corrosion and Protection

Microstructure and Wear Corrosion Properties of TiAlN/VN Multilayer Films on Titanium Alloy Connecting Rods

WU Jie, XU Zhaoying^*, WANG Jiarong, ZHANG Tengfei, WANG Jinbiao, SU Yongyao

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Abstract

In order to enhance the tribological and corrosion properties of TC4 titanium alloy connecting rods to meet the high standards required for material performance in modern engineering structures. Based on surface engineering and composite multi-component structure design, TiAlN/VN multilayer films with different modulation periods are deposited on TC4 titanium alloy substrates using the microwave enhanced magnetron sputtering method. The microstructure of TiAlN/VN multilayer films is characterized by X-ray diffraction. Additionally, profilometry technique, nanoindenter, tribometer, and electrochemical workstation are employed to analyze the residual stress, mechanical properties, tribological performance, and corrosion resistance, respectively. The results show that the coherent epitaxial growth of TiAlN/VN multilayer films exhibits a classical face-centered cubic (fcc) structure. The hardness of TiAlN/VN multilayer films increases with modulation periods decreasing. The multilayer with a modulation period of 186 nm displays the highest hardness (25.46 ± 0.69) GPa in all monolithic and multilayer films, which is signiﬁcantly higher than the rule of mixture hardness of monolithic TiAlN and VN films. The trend of the elastic modulus change is similar to the hardness. Residual stress is generated during the film growth process, which leads the film to be cracked easily. The residual stress of TiAlN/VN multilayer films decreases with the modulation period decreasing, that almost all multilayers with a modulation period of 186 nm exhibit lower residual stress (0.88) GPa than the average value of monolithic TiAlN films. It is due to periodically introduction of NV layers into TiAlN layers that help to relax the stress built in TiAlN layers. The reduction of the modulation period, keeping constant the total thickness for the TiAlN/VN multilayer ﬁlms, can increase the interfaces number, more interfaces will absorb more energy from TiAlN layers and relieve their strain ﬁelds, which produces lower residual stress in TiAlN/VN multilayer ﬁlms when the modulation period is decreased. The location of the critical load L_c2 of TiAlN and VN films are 39 and 42 mN, respectively, as they are clear whole fracture indicated by scratch tracks as well as signiﬁcant zigzag curves in both scratch scan and post scan proﬁles after this load. The TiAlN/VN multilayer films with a modulation period of 280 nm exhibits smooth scratch scan and post scan surface proﬁles. Its critical fracture load exceeds 100 mN. This improved fracture resistance appears to be directly related to low compressive stress, high hardness and strong plastic. The TiAlN/VN multilayer films with a modulation period of 280 nm have the best wear resistance, stable friction coefficient, excellent toughness and crack deformation resistance due to the good combination of hardness, ductility and low compressive stress, high H/E and H³/E² ratios. In general, low corrosion current density and high polarization resistance indicate that the film material has excellent corrosion resistance. The TiAlN/VN multilayer films with different modulation periods had higher self-corrosion potential and polarization resistance than TC4 titanium alloy, while their corrosion current density is lower than that of the TC4 titanium alloy substrate. The TiAlN/VN multilayer films could significantly improve the wear resistance and corrosion resistance of TC4 titanium alloy, which can effectively improve the service life of titanium alloy connecting rods and provide the theoretical basis for expand the application fields of TC4 titanium alloy.

Key words

TC4 titanium alloy / TiAlN/VN multilayer films / microstructure / tribological property / corrosion resistance

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WU Jie, XU Zhaoying, WANG Jiarong, ZHANG Tengfei, WANG Jinbiao, SU Yongyao. Microstructure and Wear Corrosion Properties of TiAlN/VN Multilayer Films on Titanium Alloy Connecting Rods[J]. Surface Technology. 2026, 55(8): 45-53

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Funding

The Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing Science & Technology Commission (CSTB2025NSCQ-GPX0342, cstc2020jcyj-msxmX0069); Chongqing Yongchuan District Technology Innovation and Application Development Special Surface Project (2024 yc-cxfz30117)