Dataset: Columnar grain boundaries are the weakest link in hard coatings: insights from micro-cantilever testing

README – Dataset for columnar grain boundaries are the weakest link in hard coatings: insights from micro-cantilever testing 1. General Information • Title: Dataset for columnar grain boundaries are the weakest link in hard coatings: insights from micro-cantilever testing • Authors: Yinxia Zhang, Matthias Bartosik, Steffen Brinckmann, Subin Lee, Christoph Kirchlechner • Contact: [e-mail] • Date of dataset creation: 2025 • Version: 1.0 ⸻ 2. Description This dataset accompanies the publication: Columnar grain boundaries are the weakest link in hard coatings: insights from micro-cantilever testing (2025) Materials Research Letters, 13 (11), pp. 1099 - 1107. https://doi.org/10.1080/21663831.2025.2560526 The dataset includes: • Load-displacement data from each microcantilever (converted to accessible .txt format). • Geometrical parameters of tested cantilevers (Excel file). Cantilevers from two different materials were investigated: 1. CrN/AlN multilayered hard coatings on Si 2. CrN/AlN multilayered hard coatings on MgO ⸻ 3. Contents • raw_data/ – Load–displacement data of each cantilever (converted from .hys to .txt). • cantilever_geometry.xlsx – Summary of cantilever geometrical parameters. • README.md – Documentation file. ⸻ 4. Methodology • Experimental setup: Microcantilever bending tests were performed with a Bruker Hysitron PI89 indenter equipped with a low-load transducer. • Data recording: Original raw files were stored in proprietary .hys format. For accessibility, all data were converted to plain-text .txt format. • Tested materials: • CrN/AlN multilayered hard coatings on Si • CrN/AlN multilayered hard coatings on MgO ⸻ 5. File Formats • .txt – ASCII text files containing load-displacement curves. • .xlsx – Microsoft Excel file summarizing geometrical parameters. ⸻ 6. Usage Notes • The .txt files can be opened with any text editor or processed with scientific software (e.g., Python, MATLAB, Origin). • The Excel file provides cantilever dimensions, which should be considered for data interpretation. • For proper context and interpretation, please refer to the associated publication. License: CC-BY-4.0 Citation: If you use this dataset, please cite both the dataset and the associated publication: Zhang Y., Bartosik M., Brinckmann S., Bansal U., Lee S., Kirchlechner C. Columnar grain boundaries are the weakest link in hard coatings: insights from micro-cantilever testing (2025) Materials Research Letters, 13 (11), pp. 1099 - 1107. https://doi.org/10.1080/21663831.2025.2560526 Zhang, Y., Bartosik, M., Brinckmann, S., Bansal, U., Lee, S., & Kirchlechner, C. (2025). Dataset: Columnar grain boundaries are the weakest link in hard coatings: insights from micro-cantilever testing. Zenodo https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17767118 ⸻ 7. Related Resources • Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21663831.2025.2560526 ⸻ 8. Acknowledgements This work was supported by: • Austrian Science Fund (FWF), Project I4720 • German Research Foundation (DFG), Project 436506789 ⸻