Nanomechanical Properties of Zirconia- Alumina Plasma Sprayed Nanocomposite Coatings

Mechanical properties of micro/nanoscale structures are necessary to design reliable ceramic coatings. Micro/nanomechanical characterizations of novel nanocomposite coatings (NCCs) and micron composite coatings (MCCs) have been studied. Hardness, elastic modulus and creep resistance of these materials were measured by means of nanoindentation. It is found that the nanocomposite coatings exhibit higher hardness, elastic modulus and creep resistance as compared to the micron composite coatings. The nanoindentation tests used in this study can be satisfied to evaluate the mechanical properties of micro/nanoscale structures of ceramic coatings