Nanoscale characterization of Titanium-based coatings plastic properties by dimensional analysis, FEA and Infimum resultant error criterion

Abstract

Working with continuously harder materials and higher cutting speeds requires novel mechanical properties for cutting tools. The application of titanium-based coatings deposited by PVD is experienced as one of the most effective solutions. To assure achievement of the required characteristics in the metal cutting process, which mainly includes turning, milling, drilling and some other methods, extracting the plastic properties has been the main challenge for a long time. In this paper, a hybrid method emerging the modified dimensional analysis method (MDAM) and experimental data with novel algorithm named as minimum resultant error method is proposed. By using this algorithm, yield stress, strain hardening exponent and strain hardening coefficient are extracted as unique measures via using a single indenter nanoindentation result. An existing experimental output data and numerical solution of TiN thin film nanoindentation test are used to verify the proposed approach. The same procedure is implemented to calculate the plastic properties of TiAlN coating. Some of the results for TiAlN are among the rarely investigated matters. The effects of mesh refinement, friction coefficient and indenter tip radius are elucidated. According to the results attained from the new approach, there is an excellent agreement between MDAM and the combined algorithm results (4% for yield stress and 7% for strain hardening exponent). The resultant error is calculated in the range of 0.47–4.1% for optimized deviation. To provide another criterion of the adaptability of the results, the elastic modulus and hardness are calculated within less than 5% and 9% errors, respectively.