Evaluation of the mechanical properties of plasma-sprayed coating by nanoindentation technology

In this paper, the mechanical properties of plasma-sprayed coatings are evaluated using the technology of nanoindentation. According to the indentation curve (load versus indenter's displacement), which is recorded in an indentation experiment, the mechanical behaviour of the plasma-sprayed coating is investigated via inverse analysis using numerical optimization algorithms. The tip rounding of imperfect indenter is investigated in parameter identification. Subsequently, the hardness on the top surface and on the vertical cross section of the plasma-sprayed coating are investigated. The results show that the hardness on the top surface of the coating depends on the indentation depth. Moreover, the results show that the hardness on the cross section of the coating is significantly affected by the substrate if the indentation impression is too close to the coating-substrate interface.