Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Coatings enhance surface properties of engineering components by improving wear resistance, corrosion protection, and durability. In aerospace applications, hard chromium and WC-Co coatings are commonly used. These are applied through thermal or electrochemical processes, often producing uneven surfaces that require grinding to meet dimensional tolerances. However, grinding generates heat that can penetrate the coating and damage the steel substrate, causing grinding burns that reduce mechanical strength and fatigue life. Traditional detection methods, such as acid etching, cannot assess subsurface damage without removing the coating. This study introduces a novel non-destructive eddy current (EC) testing method to detect grinding burns beneath conductive coatings. Simulation and experimental studies were performed on carbon steel samples coated with Cr and WC-Co of varying thicknesses. The results show that EC testing can successfully identify subsurface thermal damage and distinguish between different burn severities. This work demonstrates, for the first time, the feasibility of detecting grinding burns under conductive coatings, offering a promising pathway for non-destructive evaluation in aerospace manufacturing.
DOI: 10.58286/33050
Institution: Ideko (Spain)
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7167237286