Application of the plasticity characteristic determined by the indentation technique for evaluation of mechanical properties of coatings: I. specific features of the test method procedure

Specific features of the test method procedure capable for determining the plasticity characteristic dH by indentation of inhomogeneous coatings affected by residual stress was clarified. When the value of the plasticity characteristic for coating was found to be as great as dH > 0.5 a simplified model was found to be reasonably adequate, while a modified model assumed compressibility of the deformation core beneath indentation. The advantage of the modified approach compared to the simplified one was grounded experimentally only if the elastic deformation for coating becomes greater than ?e ? 3.5%, resulting in the decrease of plasticity characteristic dH < 0.5. To overcome non accuracy caused by the effect of the scale factor on measurement results a comparison of different coatings was suggested using stabilized values of the plasticity characteristic dH determined under loads higher than critical, P ? Pc, ensuring week dependence of micro hardness values on the indentation load.