1997 Volume 46 Issue 10 Pages 1124-1129
Rotating bending fatigue tests have been conducted at room temperature in air using the specimens of medium carbon steel (S45C), low alloy steel (SCM435) and titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) with HVOF sprayed coating of a cermet (WC-12%Co) and S45C with WFS sprayed coating of a 13Cr steel (SUS420 J2). The fatigue strength and fracture mechanisms were studied. The fatigue strength evaluated by nominal stress was strongly influenced by substrate materials and the thickness of sprayed coatings. Detailed observation of crack initiation on the coating surface and fracture surface revealed that microcracks initiated at the WC grain boundary coalesced, and then the crack grew rapidly in the coating. Cracks in the substrate were initiated by the stress concentration of the crack in the coating, which was modeled by finite element analysis. For the specimens tested in this study, the fatigue strength of sprayed specimens was dominated by that of sprayed coating. Thus, the fatigue strength could be evaluated uniquely by the true stress on the coating surface.
