Strength ranking for interfaces between a TiN hard coating and microstructural constituents of high speed steel determined by micromechanical testing

•New test method for strength of metal-ceramic and ceramic-ceramic interfaces.•Micromechanical test using a novel micro shear compression (MSC) specimen geometry.•Strength ranking of interfaces between HSS microstructural constituents and TiN hard coating.•Plastification before fracture in metal-ceramic interface specimen.•Basis to study failure behaviour of substrate-coating composites.