Hard coating material selection using multi-criteria decision making

The paper deals with the hard coating material selection using various multi-criteria decision making approaches. Large number of materials has stimulated intense research in the field of material selection. Various quantitative decision making approaches are employed to select hard coating material selection. Technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) is used for ranking these materials. Material selection charts (Ashby approach) is used to select hard coating materials. Pareto-optimal hard coating materials are determined for trade-off between hardness (H), H/E and H3/E2 (E: Young’s modulus). Hierarchical clustering is used to classify hard coating materials under study. Pearson correlation coefficients are calculated between the materials properties under study which can be integrated with materials informatics for rapidly screening and designing materials.

► Hard coating materials are selected using multiple attribute decision making (MADM) approach (TOPSIS).
► The results are compared with that of material selection using Ashby approach.
► Good concurrence is found between the results of Ashby approach and TOPSIS technique.
► These techniques are efficient in selection and screening of hard coating materials.