Abstract: A method for applying a protective coating on an article, comprising the following steps: selecting an article with a surface for applying a coating thickness; creating undercut grooves on the article, where the grooves depend beneath the surface to a bottom portion with the grooves having an upper width on the surface and a lower width on the bottom portion connected by side walls, where at least one of the side walls connects the upper width and the lower width to form an undercut angle with the surface less than 90°; and, applying the protective coating onto the article to fill the undercut grooves and cover the surface, thereby forming weak paths within the protective coating.

Abstract: A method for applying a protective coating on an article, comprising the following steps: selecting an article with a surface for applying a coating thickness; creating undercut grooves on the article, where the grooves depend beneath the surface to a bottom portion with the grooves having an upper width on the surface and a lower width on the bottom portion connected by side walls, where at least one of the side walls connects the upper width and the lower width to form an undercut angle with the surface less than 90°; and, applying the protective coating onto the article to fill the undercut grooves and cover the surface, thereby forming weak paths within the protective coating.

Abstract: An article with a surface that includes undercut grooves depending beneath the surface to a bottom portion, where the grooves have an upper width on the surface and a lower width on the bottom portion connected by side walls, and where at least one of said side walls connects the upper width to the lower width to form an undercut angle with the surface of less than 90°. The article is covered with a coating that contains weak paths for stress relief. The coating fills the undercut grooves and ranges above the surface with a thickness from about 0.1 to 50 mm.