Advantages of Nanoimpact Fracture Testing in Studying the Mechanical Behavior of CrAl(Si)N Coatings

Characterization studies involving the fracture behavior of coatings can play an important role in the mechanical analysis of coatings employed in machining applications. In this study, glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy was used to determine the profile composition of various single layer CrAl(Si)N coatings. Nanoimpact tests using a cube corner indenter were compared against standard nanoindentation tests in order to characterize the fracture behavior of the coatings. Micro-mechanical properties like ductile fracture, brittle fracture, micro hardness, elastic modulus and micro hardness dissipation parameter (MDP) were measured showing that silicon addition in the coatings results in a decrease in ductility.