Variables affecting the fatigue resistance of PVD-coated components

The effect of intrinsic properties of CrN coatings on fatigue behaviour was studied in this paper. The coating layer microhardness and the residual stresses characterising the surface film were measured and the obtained results were introduced in a numerical modelling predicting fatigue life procedure of coated components. The effect of a CrN monolayer film deposited on bulk samples, produced in 2205 duplex stainless steel, H11 tool steel or 6082 aluminium alloy was investigated. The fatigue limit of coated and uncoated samples was experimentally determined while the development of FEM models, confirmed by means of experimental tests, represents a powerful tool to predict fatigue life of coated components. The effects on the fatigue strength of coating and bulk material defects like droplets and non-metallic inclusions were considered along with the residual stress gradient characterising the coating and evaluated by means of X-ray measurements. The influence of the substrate material plastic deformation on the integrity of the coating was evaluated too.