Interfacial strength of laser surface engineered TiC coating on 6061 Al using four-point bend test

The four-point bend test was carried out on laser surface engineered TiC coating on 6061 Al alloy to study the interfacial strength of the coating. Strain energy release rate, Gss and the stress intensity factor, Kc were computed for this particular coating/substrate system. These measurements provide information on the mechanical performance and integrity of the interface between metal and the ceramic. Microstructure of the tested samples is discussed. The interface plays a key role in the mechanical behavior of ceramic-coating system. Many cracks, which propagated from the surface caused in delamination of the coating from the surface. It is inferred that ‘mixed’ mode of failure along with the ‘composite’ nature of the interface has a significant effect on the energy release rate and of the coating/substrate system.