Deformation and fracture of polymer coated metal sheets: characterisation and degradation

AbstractThe present work intends to understand the failure mechanism of polymer coated metal sheets during deep drawing. Characterisation and degradation evaluations of the metal–polymer protective substrates were carried out by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and electrochemical trials. Attenuated total reflection, Fourier transform infrared and confocal Raman spectroscopy were employed to analyse the structural changes of the polyethylene teraphtalate coatings on the electrolytic chromium coated steel plates resulting from the manufacturing processes by deep drawing and the electrochemical degradation caused by citric citrate solutions.