Gegenstand dieser Dissertation ist die Etablierung des Elastizitätsmoduls als Parameter, der qualitative Aussagen über den Schädigungszustand des Baustoffs Straßenbeton ermöglicht. Zu diesem Zweck erfolgte eine systematische Ermüdung von labormaßstäblichen Betonprobekörpern bei zeitgleicher Messung des Elastizitätsmoduls mit Hilfe von unterschiedlichen Verfahren. Im ersten Schritt wurde ein Versuchsprogramm entwickelt, mit dem Probekörper mittels des Spaltzug-Schwellversuchs gezielt in einen definierten Ermüdungszustand versetzt werden können. Hierfür wurde der Parameter des Grenz-Elastizitätsmoduls definiert, welcher, wenn er unterschritten wird, zum Pausieren des Versuchs führt. In diesen systematisch eingehaltenen Lastpausen erfolgten begleitende Untersuchungen der Ultraschalllaufzeit und der Eigenfrequenz zur Bestimmung des Elastizitätsmoduls der Probekörper während des Ermüdungsvorganges. Es zeigt sich zwischen den Ergebnissen aller untersuchten Verfahren eine sehr gute Synchronität hinsichtlich des qualitativen ermüdungsbedingten Verlaufs des Elastizitätsmoduls. Die vier angewandten Verfahren, die sich voneinander unabhängiger physikalischer Phänomene bedienen, ermöglichen neben einer qualitativen Aussage über die Schädigung des Materials die Bestimmung von Absolutwerten des Elastizitätsmoduls. Je nach verwendetem Verfahren weichen die absoluten Elastizitätsmoduln leicht voneinander ab. Der Elastizitätsmodul bestätigt sich als geeigneter Parameter zur Beschreibung der Degradation des Baustoffs Straßenbeton im Zuge des Ermüdungsprozesses. Im zweiten Schritt wurden der Einfluss längerer Lastpausen sowie die Verminderung der Betonfestigkeit im Zuge der Materialermüdung tiefergehend untersucht. Es wurde festgestellt, dass längere Lastpausen in der zyklischen Belastung einen signifikanten Einfluss auf den ermüdungsbedingten Verlauf des Elastizitätsmoduls haben können. Weiterhin legen die Untersuchungen nahe, dass es im Zuge einer starken Ermüdung zu einer zum Teil signifikanten Verminderung der Festigkeit kommt. Als Resultat der Untersuchungen konnten sowohl ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung charakteristischer Verläufe für die Verminderung des Elastizitätsmoduls als auch ein Verfahren zur Abschätzung der materialspezifischen Verminderung der Festigkeit im Zuge der Ermüdung entwickelt werden. Diese Verfahren könnten zukünftig den Regelwerken der RSO Beton und der RDO Beton zugeführt werden, um die ermüdungsbedingte zeitliche Entwicklung des Elastizitätsmoduls und der Festigkeit in den durch die Regelwerke festgeschriebenen Prognose- und Dimensionierungsprozessen zu berücksichtigen. Durch die Einbeziehung zeitlich veränderlicher Werte im Prognoseverfahren, welches als Grundlage für die RSO Beton dienen soll, wird in dieser Dissertation exemplarisch gezeigt, dass die Berücksichtigung der Auswirkungen der Betonermüdung auf diese für die Prognose und die Dimensionierung von Betonfahrbahnbefestigungen sehr relevanten Parameter zur signifikanten Erhöhung der Ausfallrate gegenüber der Verwendung konstanter Werte führen kann. / The subject of this doctoral dissertation is the establishment of the elastic modulus as a parameter that enables qualitative statements about the state of damage of the concrete pavement building material. For this purpose, a systematic fatigue of laboratory-scale concrete specimens was carried out with simultaneous measurement of the elastic modulus by means of different methods. In the first step, a test program was developed for the targeted and systematic fatigue of concrete specimens by means of the cyclic indirect tensile test. For this purpose, a limit value for the elastic modulus was defined. When the elastic modulus fell below the limit, the test was paused to perform accompanying investigations of the ultrasonic transit time and the natural frequency in order to determine the change of the elastic modulus of the specimens during the fatigue process. There is a very good synchronicity between the results of all investigated methods for the qualitative determination of the elastic modulus. The four methods applied, which make use of physical phenomena that are independent of each other, allow, in addition to a qualitative statement about the damage to the material, the determination of absolute values of the elastic modulus. Although there are slight differences between the methods for the determination of the elastic modulus, it is confirmed as a suitable parameter for describing the degradation of the concrete pavement building material in the course of the fatigue process. In the second step, the influence of longer loading pauses and the reduction of concrete strength due to material fatigue were investigated in more detail. It was found that longer loading pauses during cyclic loading can have a significant influence on the fatigue-related course of the elastic modulus. Furthermore, the investigations suggest that in the course of severe fatigue there is a sometimes significant reduction in strength. As a result of the investigations, both a method for determining characteristic curves for the reduction of the elastic modulus and a method for estimating the material-specific reduction of strength in the course of fatigue could be developed. In the future, these methods could be implemented into the RSO Beton and RDO Beton regulations in order to take into account the fatigue-related temporal development of the elastic modulus and the strength in the forecasting and dimensioning processes specified by the regulations. By including time-varying values in the forecasting procedure, which is to serve as the basis for the RSO Beton, this doctoral dissertation exemplifies that the consideration of the effects of concrete fatigue on these very relevant parameters for the forecasting and dimensioning of concrete pavements, can lead to the significant increase of the failure rate compared to the use of constant values.

No description available.

Synthetic vascular grafts are useful to bypass diseased arteries. The long-term failure of synthetic grafts is primarily due to intimal hyperplasia at the anastomotic sites. The accelerated intimal hyperplasia may stem from a compliance mismatch between the host artery and the graft since commercially available synthetic conduits are much stiffer than an artery. The objective of this thesis is to design a method for fabricating a vascular graft that mechanically matches the patients native artery over the expected physiologic range of pressures. The creation of an optimized mechanical graft will hopefully lead to an improvement in patency rates. The mechanical equivalency between the graft and the host artery is defined locally by several criteria including the diameter upon inflation, the elasticity at mean pressure, and axial force. A single parameter mathematical for a thin-walled tube is used to describe of the final mechanical behavior of a synthetic graft. For the general problem, the objective would be to fabricate a mechanics-matching vascular graft for each host artery. Typically, fabrication parameters are set initially and the properties of the fabricated graft are measured. However, by modeling the entire fabrication process and final mechanical properties, it is possible to invert the situation and let the typical output mechanical values be used to define the fabrication parameters. The resultant fabricated graft will then be mechanically matching. As a proof-of-concept, several prototype synthetic grafts were manufactured and characterized by a single Invariant to match a canine artery. The resultant graft equaled the diameter upon inflation, the elasticity at mean pressure, and axial force of the native canine artery within 6%. An alternative to making an individual graft for each artery is also presented. A surgeon may choose the best graft from a set of pre-manufactured grafts, using a computer program algorithm for best fit using two parameters in a neighborhood. The design optimization problem was solved for both canine carotid and human coronary arteries. In conclusion, the overall process of design, fabrication and selection of a mechanics matching synthetic vascular graft is shown to be reliable and robust.

Magnetostrictive materials belong to an important class of smart magnetic materials which have potential applications as ultrasonic transducers, sensors, actuators, delay lines, energy harvesting devices etc. Although, magnetostrictive property is exhibited by almost all ferro and ferrimagnetic materials, the R-Fe type (R represents rare earth elements) intermetallic compounds display maximum promise owing to the large magnetostriction exhibited by them at ambient temperature. Among the several R-Fe type compounds, Tb-Fe and Sm-Fe alloys are found to exhibit maximum room temperature positive and negative magnetostriction respectively. Recently, Fe-Ga based alloys have gained significant interest as newly emerging magnetostrictive material due to a good combination of magnetic and mechanical properties. These magnetostrictive materials in thin film form are of interests for several researchers both from fundamental and applied perspectives. Currently, many researchers are exploring the possibility of using magnetostrictive thin films in micro- and nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS). Three material systems viz. Fe-Ga, Tb-Fe and Sm-Fe in thin film form have been chosen for our investigations. DC magnetron sputtering and e-beam evaporation techniques were used for deposition of these thin films on Si (100) substrates. Several aspects such as evolution of microstructure, film surface morphology, structure and change in film composition with different processing conditions were investigated in detail, as the existing literature could not provide a clear insight. Further, detailed magnetic characterizations of these films were carried out and established a process-structure-property correlation. The thesis is divided into seven chapters. The first chapter presents a brief introduction of magnetostrictive phenomena and the physics behind its origin. A brief history of evolution of magnetostrictive materials with superior properties is also brought out. Introduction to the material systems considered for the present study has also been presented. Discussions on various aspects like crystal structures, magnetic properties, and phase diagrams of these material systems are also included in this chapter. Magnetostriction in thin films and its importance in current technological applications are discussed in short. Further, a summary of existing literature on thin films of these materials has been narrated to highlight the perspective of the work done in subsequent chapters. In addition to this, a clear picture of the grey area for further investigations has been provided. Formulation of detailed scope of work for this study is also provided in this chapter. Details of different experimental techniques used in this study for deposition and characterization of these films are given in chapter 2. In the third chapter of the thesis a detailed study on the structural, microstructural and magnetic properties of Fe-Ga films deposited using dc magnetron sputtering technique are presented. The effect of sputtering parameters such as (i) Ar pressure, (ii) sputtering power, (iii) substrate temperature and (iv) deposition time/film thickness on the magnetic properties of the films are discussed in detail. All the films are found to be polycrystalline in nature with A2 type structure as evidenced from grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies. Surface morphology of the films are found to be affected with processing conditions considerably. Thermomagnetic behaviour of the films studied using a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometer under zero field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) conditions are also presented. The sputtering parameters are also found to influence the magnetic properties of the films through modifications in microstructure, surface morphology and film compositions. Irrespective of the sputtering parameters, room temperature (RT) deposited Fe-Ga films are found to exhibit large magnetic coercively and large saturation magnetic field as compared to the bulk alloy of similar compositions which are not desirable for micromagnetic device applications. A significant improvement in the magnetic properties of the films was obtained in the films deposited at higher substrate temperatures and is correlated with modifications in grain size and film surface roughness. These films are also found to exhibit better magnetostriction than the RT deposited films. Further, the magnetic properties of Fe-Ga films as a function of film thickness in the range 2 – 480 nm are also presented. The nature of variation of coercively with film thickness was correlated with grain size effect and explained successfully with the help of random anisotropy model. In the fourth chapter, studies on the microstructural and magnetic properties of Tb-Fe films were presented. It was reported earlier that TbxFe100-x films exhibit in-plane magnetic anisotropy for the films with x > 42 at.% of Tb and out-of-plane anisotropy for the composition 28 < x < 42. Presence of these anisotropies is technologically important for different applications. We have studied the magnetic properties of Tb-Fe films in these two composition range. TbxFe100-x films with 54  x  59 were prepared using dc magnetron sputtering technique under varying Ar pressure and sputtering power and the details about microstructural and magnetic properties are presented in this chapter. All the films are found to be amorphous in nature. While the composition of the film is found to remain constant with sputtering power, the Fe concentration in the film is found to be depleted with increase in Ar pressure. Magnetic properties are found to change from superparamagnetic to ferromagnetic behaviour with increase in sputtering power. Curie temperature of the films are found to be low (below RT) and is explained based on sperimagnetic ordering of magnetic sub-lattices. The perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) or out-of-plane anisotropy behaviour of Tb-Fe films were not studied in detail as a function of film thickness. We have successfully prepared TbxFe100-x films with 29  x  40 using e-beam evaporation technique using alloy target composition of TbFe in order to study the PMA behaviour as a function of film thickness. The thickness of the films was varied from 50 to 800 nm. All the films are found to be amorphous and columnar growth structure with fine channels of voids are observed from the TEM studies. Detailed magnetization and thermomagnetic measurements were carried out using SQUID magnetometer at different temperatures. The out-of-plane magnetic coercivity of the films was found to increase with film thickness and then decreases with further increase in thickness. Maximum coercivity of ~ 20 kOe has been obtained for the 400 nm thick film. Magnetic domain patterns were studied using magnetic force microscopy (MFM) technique and the observed magnetic properties are correlated with domain pattern and microstructures. Although there are several reports on device applications of Sm-Fe thin films which exhibit negative magnetostriction, a comprehensive study on the effect of different process parameters on the magnetic properties and its correlation with structure and microstructure is still elusive. Hence, Sm-Fe films were deposited on Si (100) substrate using dc magnetron sputtering technique under varying Ar pressure and sputtering power. Effect of these parameters on the microstructural and magnetic properties of the films was studied in detail and is presented in chapter 5. The curie temperature of the films was found to increase with increase in sputtering power and Ar pressure. This was attributed to increase in film thickness and size of islands (atomic clusters). Coercivity as low as 30 Oe has been achieved in the film deposited at 15 mTorr Ar pressure. The Curie temperature for the films deposited at higher Ar pressure (10 and 15 mTorr) are found to be above RT. Maximum saturation magnetostriction of ~ - 390 -strains has been achieved in the film deposited at 15 mTorr Ar pressure. Rapid thermal processing (RTP) experiments were also carried out to increase the magnetic ordering in the films deposited at low Ar pressure (5 mTorr) by imparting structural ordering. Large improvement in magnetization and Curie temperature of the film was observed after RTA. However, this could be attributed to the formation of nano-crystalline Fe phase as evidenced from the TEM studies and thermomagnetic measurements. An overall summary of the experimental results has been presented in chapter 6. The scope of work for further study in future has also been highlighted in chapter 7.

Work describes the relationship between structure and mechanical properties in case of hybrid mixtures. They are composed from polyurethane matrices (eventually polyurethane-urea or polyurethane-inorganic filler mixtures), different rubber fractions as filler and eventually reinforcement made from PET monofilaments. Mechanical behaviour was studied by tensile testing. Studied mechanical properties include tensile modulus, ultimate strength and strain and also specific energy need neccessary for ultimate strength achievement. Prepared materials are naturally porous. Therefore their mechanical behaviour has to be described generally for porous composites. The porosity occurence means, that it is difficult to describe them by models valid for mechanical behaviour (mainly elastic modulus) of nonporous composites. Models are also based on idealized structures on microscopic level. In case of porous composites, it is very difficult to create any idealized structure. The structure is changed with modifications of composition (change of components or their rates). These conditions have lead to utilizing of different approach how to describe the relationship between structure and mentioned mechanical properties. The chosen approach comes from knewledge about structural parametres coming from porosity. Structural parameters describe the structure on macroscopic level. They include interspace volume (volume lying between filler particles), interspace filling (how the matrix fills the interspace volume) and matrix volume fraction. Proposed parameters are used in relations, where they are fitted by exponents to interlay values of chosen mechanical properties for composites containing discrete matrix and filler. Found exponents are then described by properties of matrices to obtain relations describing properties of filled porous materials. Very similar approach was chosen for description in the case of reinforced composites. Proposed relation are potentially valid for materials containing binding matrix, infinity count of fillers and one kind of reinforcement.

Předložená magisterská práce se zabývá možným použitím vitrifikovaného lignitového lóžového popele jako náhrada slinku v kompozitních cementech. Byly zkoumány vlivy přidaného vitrifikovaného lóžového popele, jeho jemnosti, alkalických roztoků a jejich koncentrací. Byly připraveny kompozitní cementy v souladu s normou DIN EN 197 – 1. V těchto cementech bylo nahrazeno 30 % slinku vitrifikovaným lóžovým popelem. Konkrétně byly připraveny kompozitní cementy s vitrifikovaným lóžovým popelem o jemnosti 5549 cm2/g a 8397 cm2/g. Dále byly přidány alkalické roztoky hydroxidů a síranů vždy o dvou různých koncentracích, za účelem stimulace pucolánové a/nebo geopolymerní reakce. Mechanické vlastnosti připravených vzorků byly charakterizovány mechanickým testováním na prizmách s rozměry 40×40×160 mm, jak je specifikováno v normě DIN EN 196 – 1. Byla provedena nedestruktivní měření dynamického elastického modulu a destruktivní testovaní na pevnosti v tlaku a v ohybu. Distribuce velikosti částic a chemická analýza vstupních materiálů byla vykonána pomocí laserové granulometrie a rentgenové fluorescence. U zatvrdlých kompozitů bylo dále zkoumáno po 2 a 28 dnech hydratace fázové složení s využitím metody rentgenové difrakce a mikrostruktura s využitím skenovací elektronové mikroskopie. Výsledky ukázaly, že mechanické vlastnosti jsou nezávislé na množství přidaných alkálií stejně jako na jemnosti přidaného vitrifikovaného lóžového popele. Nicméně, znatelně nižší mechanické pevnosti byly pozorovány pro vzorky, které byly aktivovány hydroxidy, pravděpodobně kvůli brzké tvorbě silikátového hydrogelu. Vzorky aktivované sírany nedosáhly pevností jako referenční malta.

The work deals with the possibilities of using fine crushed and quarried aggregate to base layers of roads. The introduction of the theoretical part explains the origin of this type of aggregate. There are also described the tests, which were used to verify the attributes and features of these mixtures and their use in cemented base layers of roads. In a brief way, the work also deals with foreign research and the possibilities that arise from it. In the practical part is then described the process of mixture preparing and laboratory tests carried out on them, the production of test specimens, load tests of these specimens and interpretation of the results. The conclusion summarizes the findings. Here are also discussed ways to apply them in practice.

Magnesium alloys are being developed as advanced materials for structural applications where reduced weight is a primary motivator. Alloying can enhance the properties of magnesium without significantly affecting its density. Essential to alloy development, inclusive of processing parameters, is knowledge of thermodynamic, kinetic, and mechanical behavior of the alloy and its constituents. Appreciable progress has been made through conventional development processes, but to accelerate development of suitable wrought Mg alloys, an integrated Materials Genomic approach must be taken where thermodynamics and diffusion kinetic parameters form the basis of alloy design, process development, and properties-driven applications. The objective of this research effort is twofold: first, to codify the relationship between diffusion behavior, crystal structure, and mechanical properties; second, to provide fundamental data for the purpose of wrought Mg alloy development. Together, the principal deliverable of this work is an advanced understanding of Mg systems. To that end, the objective is accomplished through an aggregate of studies. The solid-to-solid diffusion bonding technique is used to fabricate combinatorial samples of Mg-Al-Zn ternary and Mg-Al, Mg-Zn, Mg-Y, Mg-Gd, and Mg-Nd binary systems. The combinatorial samples are subjected to structural and compositional characterization via Scanning Electron Microscopy with X-ray Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, Electron Probe Microanalysis, and analytical Transmission Electron Microscopy. Interdiffusion in binary Mg systems is determined by Sauer-Freise and Boltzmann-Matano methods. Kirkaldy*s extension of the Boltzmann-Matano method, on the basis of Onsager*s formalism, is employed to quantify the main- and cross-interdiffusion coefficients in ternary Mg solid solutions. Impurity diffusion coefficients are determined by way of the Hall method. The intermetallic compounds and solid solutions formed during diffusion bonding of the combinatorial samples are subjected to nanoindentation tests, and the nominal and compositionally dependent mechanical properties are extracted by the Oliver-Pharr method. In addition to bolstering the scantly available experimental data and first-principles computations, this work delivers several original contributions to the state of Mg alloy knowledge. The influence of Zn concentration on Al impurity diffusion in binary Mg(Zn) solid solution is quantified to impact both the pre-exponential factor and activation energy. The main- and cross-interdiffusion coefficients in the ternary Mg solid solution of Mg-Al-Zn are reported wherein the interdiffusion of Zn is shown to strongly influence the interdiffusion of Mg and Al. A critical examination of rare earth element additions to Mg is reported, and a new phase in thermodynamic equilibrium with Mg-solid solution is identified in the Mg-Gd binary system. It is also demonstrated that Mg atoms move faster than Y atoms. For the first time the mechanical properties of intermetallic compounds in several binary Mg systems are quantified in terms of hardness and elastic modulus, and the influence of solute concentration on solid solution strengthening in binary Mg alloys is reported. The most significant and efficient solid solution strengthening is achieved by alloying Mg with Gd. The Mg-Nd and Mg-Gd intermetallic compounds exhibited better room temperature creep resistance than intermetallic compounds of Mg-Al. The correlation between the concentration dependence of mechanical properties and atomic diffusion is deliberated in terms of electronic nature of the atomic structure.

No presente trabalho foi avaliado o efeito da microestrutura e da capacidade de suportar carregamento de camadas nitretadas produzidas em aços ferramenta AISI H13 e AISI D2 sobre a aderência e a resistência ao desgaste microabrasivo de revestimentos de TiN-PVD. Em cada um desses aços, foram produzidas camadas nitretadas de diferentes estruturas e espessuras, e foram determinadas experimentalmente as curvas potencial início de formação de camada branca, para a nitretação a 520oC. Para o aço ferramenta AISI H13, o emprego de tempos de pré-tratamento de nitretação mais prolongados ( aproximadamente 11 h) foi necessário para aprofundar a camada nitretada e, conseqüentemente, aumentar a capacidade de suportar carregamento dos revestimentos, evitando a formação de bordas que provocam o lascamento e a escamação das camadas de TiN. Observou-se que esse tipo de falha persiste se a zona de endurecimento for pouco profunda, uma vez que a transição de propriedades mecânicas da camada de TiN para o núcleo não nitretado continua abrupta e a capacidade de suportar carregamento da camada nitretada ainda é baixa. Por outro lado, curtos tempos de nitretação (aproximadamente 42 min.) foram suficientes para aumentar a aderência das camadas de TiN ao aço ferramenta D2, pois o núcleo não nitretado desse aço possui uma capacidade de suportar carregamento razoável. Observou-se que a resistência ao desgaste microabrasivo e a aderência dos revestimentos são prejudicadas com a presença de uma camada preta na interface camada de TiN/camada nitretada. Quando a superfície dos revestimentos é carregada, falhas do tipo “casca de ovo" facilmente ocorrem. / In this work, the influence of both the microstructure and the load-bearing capacity of nitrided layers, formed on top of AISI D2 and AISI H13 tool steels, on adhesion and wear resistance of PVD-TiN coatings was studied. The threshold nitriding potential curves for the above mentioned steels and the optimum conditions of the pre-treatments which increased the adhesion as well as the wear resistance of the PVD-TiN were determined experimentally. By using longer nitriding times (about 11 h) and lower nitrogen contents in the gas mixture (about N2-5%vol.), it was possible to minimize the pile-up degree of the TiN/H13 nitrided substrates and, consequently, the occurrence of coatings chipping. This flaw persists when the nitrided layer is thin, due to an abrupt transition of mechanical properties at the TiN coating / steel core interface. Shorter nitriding times (about 42 min.) and lower nitrogen contents (about N2-5%vol.), on the other hand, are sufficient to guarantee a better adhesion of TiN coatings on AISI D2 tool steel, as the core of such steel possesses relatively better load-bearing capacity than the AISI H13 tool steel. The presence of a black layer at the TiN/nitrided layer interface was observed in all coatings deposited over nitrided layers produced above the threshold nitriding potential curves. This layer affects adversely the wear resistance and the adhesion of the TiN coatings. When higher loads are applied on the coated surface, “egg shell" type flaws easily occur.

No presente trabalho foi avaliado o efeito da microestrutura e da capacidade de suportar carregamento de camadas nitretadas produzidas em aços ferramenta AISI H13 e AISI D2 sobre a aderência e a resistência ao desgaste microabrasivo de revestimentos de TiN-PVD. Em cada um desses aços, foram produzidas camadas nitretadas de diferentes estruturas e espessuras, e foram determinadas experimentalmente as curvas potencial início de formação de camada branca, para a nitretação a 520oC. Para o aço ferramenta AISI H13, o emprego de tempos de pré-tratamento de nitretação mais prolongados ( aproximadamente 11 h) foi necessário para aprofundar a camada nitretada e, conseqüentemente, aumentar a capacidade de suportar carregamento dos revestimentos, evitando a formação de bordas que provocam o lascamento e a escamação das camadas de TiN. Observou-se que esse tipo de falha persiste se a zona de endurecimento for pouco profunda, uma vez que a transição de propriedades mecânicas da camada de TiN para o núcleo não nitretado continua abrupta e a capacidade de suportar carregamento da camada nitretada ainda é baixa. Por outro lado, curtos tempos de nitretação (aproximadamente 42 min.) foram suficientes para aumentar a aderência das camadas de TiN ao aço ferramenta D2, pois o núcleo não nitretado desse aço possui uma capacidade de suportar carregamento razoável. Observou-se que a resistência ao desgaste microabrasivo e a aderência dos revestimentos são prejudicadas com a presença de uma camada preta na interface camada de TiN/camada nitretada. Quando a superfície dos revestimentos é carregada, falhas do tipo “casca de ovo” facilmente ocorrem. / In this work, the influence of both the microstructure and the load-bearing capacity of nitrided layers, formed on top of AISI D2 and AISI H13 tool steels, on adhesion and wear resistance of PVD-TiN coatings was studied. The threshold nitriding potential curves for the above mentioned steels and the optimum conditions of the pre-treatments which increased the adhesion as well as the wear resistance of the PVD-TiN were determined experimentally. By using longer nitriding times (about 11 h) and lower nitrogen contents in the gas mixture (about N2-5%vol.), it was possible to minimize the pile-up degree of the TiN/H13 nitrided substrates and, consequently, the occurrence of coatings chipping. This flaw persists when the nitrided layer is thin, due to an abrupt transition of mechanical properties at the TiN coating / steel core interface. Shorter nitriding times (about 42 min.) and lower nitrogen contents (about N2-5%vol.), on the other hand, are sufficient to guarantee a better adhesion of TiN coatings on AISI D2 tool steel, as the core of such steel possesses relatively better load-bearing capacity than the AISI H13 tool steel. The presence of a black layer at the TiN/nitrided layer interface was observed in all coatings deposited over nitrided layers produced above the threshold nitriding potential curves. This layer affects adversely the wear resistance and the adhesion of the TiN coatings. When higher loads are applied on the coated surface, “egg shell” type flaws easily occur.