Micro-impact testing: A novel nano-/micro-tribological tool for assessing the performance of wear-resistant coatings under impact/fatigue conditions

摘要

A novel repetitive contact technique, micro-impact testing, has been developed forcoating evaluation. Impact test results have proved a more consistent measure of coating per-formance under impact/fatigue conditions than traditional tribological methods such as scratch orpin-on-disk testing. The operating principles of the technique are described with some illustrativeresults on hard and soft coatings. The technique can provide information on impact wear resis-tance, susceptibility to brittle fracture, and strength of interfacial adhesion to substrate.