Effects of Glass-Forming Metallic Film on the Fatigue Behavior of C-2000 Ni-Based Alloy

Abstract

AbstractGlass-forming Zr47Cu31Al13Ni9 (in atomic percent) films of various thicknesses were deposited on the C-2000 Ni-based alloy substrate by magnetron sputtering. Four-point-bending fatigue tests were conducted on the above system with the coated surface on the tensile side. It has been found that both fatigue life and fatigue-endurance limit can be considerably improved, while the degree of fatigue resistance enhancement depends on the maximum applied stress and the film thickness. Mechanisms of fatigue-resistance enhancements of the coated Ni-based alloy are discussed from the following aspects: reduction of surface roughness by the thin-film coating, good adhesion between thin film and substrate, development of residual compressive stress, and excellent ductility of glass-forming thin film (which would be otherwise brittle in bulk form). Of particular interest, we examine the interaction of substrate slip bands and the thin film ductile property, which would delay fatigue crack initiation process and thus extend the fatigue life.