Low-Temperature and High-Temperature Thermochemical Hardening Technologies for Hard Alloys

The new surface hardening methods for hard alloys are developed: (1) high-temperature process for producing multicomponent carbide coatings by thermochemical heat treatment of hard alloys at 1050 °C and (2) low-temperature process for producing thin-film coatings by chemical treatment of hard alloys in specially prepared aqueous suspensions of nanosized hard refractory compounds and subsequent tempering (minimal temperature is 130°C). The structure and properties of the obtained coatings are examined. The coatings permit improving substantially the service life of cutting tools.