Cyclic Nanoindentation and Finite Element Analysis of Ti/TiN and CrN Nanocoatings on Zr-Based Metallic Glasses Mechanical Performance

Cyclic depth-sensing nanoindentation tests are carried out to unravel the effect of monolithic and multilayer thin coatings on load-bearing capacity and stress distribution in the coating-Zr-based metallic glass systems. Thin films of TiN, CrN, and Ti/TiN multilayer, having thickness of 300 nm, are deposited on Zr 60 Ni 10 Cu 20 Al 10 and Zr 50 Cu 40 Al 10 metallic glasses by RF sputtering technique. Strain softening occurs over several cycles in Zr-based metallic glasses, CrN, and TiN films as evidenced by a disparity between the unloading and reloading sequences. However, the cyclic nanoindentation of Ti/TiN multilayer coating results in a hysteresis loop in the load-depth profiles, and this event depends on the number of cycles and the loading rates. AFM and SEM characterization of remnant imprints revealed microcraks and crack-like shear bands in nanocoatings and Zr-based metallic glasses, respectively. Based on shear-fracture driven plastic flow of the coatings, a modified cavity model is used to determine the shear stress evolution as a function of penetration depth. The finite-element simulations predicted the stress distribution beneath the indenter and are well consistent with the evolving trend of shear stress obtained from experiments.