The response to cycling contact fatigue load of a WC-6%Co carbide coated with a Ti(C,N)/α-Al2O3 CVD multilayer was investigated in dry and wet conditions. Imprints in dry conditions were characterized by small thin cracksformingacircumferenceatthemaximumradiioftheimprint.Thedamagedcoatingwastotallypresentin thefinalimprintofthedrytest.Wetindentationsshowcaseanareaintheimprintwherethe α-Al2O3 layerhas beenremovedthroughoutaringbutwaskeptatthecenteroftheindentation,suggestingthatthecoatingdamageundercyclingcontactloadinwetconditionsisdominatedbyα-Al2O3degradation,associatedwithafretting effectortangentialloadsacceleratingthefatigue-corrosionofthealuminalayer.
