The Effective and True Adhesive Strength of Thin Protective Coatings

Abstract

The applicability of the energy approach to evaluation of the adhesive strength of thin coatings that exfoliate in the course of instrumental indentation is analyzed. The effect of the coating thickness exerted on the value of adhesive strength is theoretically established. Analytical dependences are obtained that make it possible to calculate the contribution of deformation of the elastic substrate to the adhesive strength of the layered system. It is proposed to introduce the concept of the effective value and that of the true value of adhesive strength in order to assess the contribution of the coating thickness to the maintenance of thin coating serviceability.