Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 August 2011
Statistical studies involving the fracture behavior of coatings can play an important role in the mechanical analysis of films employed in the hard coating industry. In this study, Nanoimpact tests using a cube corner indenter were carried out in various CrAl(Si)N coatings for the quantitative assessment of properties of coatings like non-catastropic failure time and catastrophic failure time. These parameters decrease in value as silicon is incorporated in coatings, showing that this addition results in a decrease in ductility. Scanning electron microscope images were taken to the analyzed coatings exhibiting the residual imprints after nanoimpact test that were correlated with the fracture behavior of CrAl(Si)N coatings.