Abstract Scope |
Nano multilayers (NMs) consist of alternating layers of materials with thicknesses on the order of nanometers and typically display many attractive properties which are attributed to the fact that, as the layer thicknesses decrease, the individual layer behavior changes and the interface volume increases. In general, studies on the mechanical behavior of NMs have been focused mostly on metal systems, followed by metal/ceramic systems and even fewer studies on ceramic multilayers.
In this study, we present a comprehensive microstructural evaluation of metal and ceramic multilayers with various layer thicknesses and compositions in order to elucidate on the role of their interfaces during mechanical deformation. Several NM configurations including SiO2/TiO2, AlN/SiO2, AlN/Ag, Cu/Nb, Mo/Au and Hf/Ti will be presented. The role of bilayer thickness and composition is evaluated in both compression and tension using nanoindentation and micro-tensile tests. |