Fracture properties of CrN hard coatings: Influence of the microstructure, alloying elements, and coating architecture

Transition metal nitrides are well known and applied as protective coating materials based on their unique refractory characteristics, such as high hardness or Young’s modulus. However, for long-term applications, the fracture toughness KIC is an essential factor as the integrity of the coating-substrate interface is impaired by cracking and subsequent environmental attacks. Please click Download on the upper right corner to see the full abstract