Mechanical behaviour of TiC film coated on molybdenum by magnetron sputtering

The TiC film, which is coated on molybdenum by magnetron-sputtering, is analysed after the molybdenum substrate is tensile-tested to rupture at 300 to 1070 K. At 300 K some portion of the film exfoliated during the molybdenum substrate deformation. The degree of exfoliation is proportional to the substrate strain up to about 30% elongation, and is proportional to the square root of the film thickness. The maximum shear stress which is generated at the interface between the film and the substrate during the deformation is estimated by the measurement of the distance between cracks. From the estimated maximum shear stress, the adhesive strength of the present TiC film is evaluated to be about 400 MN m^-2.