A nanoindentation study of the deformation mode for nanostructured ductile/brittle multilayers: cracking versus shear banding. (3rd October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Feng, L.; Zhou, Q.; Jia, Q.; Shi, Y.D.; Wang, Y.; Zhao, X. H.
• Is Part Of: Philosophical magazine letters. Volume 99:Number 10(2019)
• Page Start: 372
• Page End: 385
• Publication Date: 2019-10-03
• Subjects: Multilayers -- nanoindentation -- shear bands -- cracks -- interface; Condensed matter -- Periodicals; Physics -- Periodicals; Solid state physics -- Periodicals; Physique -- Périodiques; 530.41
• DOI: 10.1080/09500839.2019.1695164
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-0839

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Nanostructured multilayer thin films (Ag/W, Cu/Ru, Cu/W), consisting of alternating ductility/brittle layers with wide ranges of modulation period ( Λ ) and modulation ratio ( η ), were prepared by magnetron sputtering. Under nanoindentation, cracking and/or shear banding behaviour was observed, which depended directly on the layer thickness of ductile and brittle layers respectively. By considering the distinct competition between crack initiation/propagation in brittle layers and the shielding/anti-shielding effect in ductile layers, the different deformation modes between these multilayers are discussed in terms of a micromechanical fracture criterion. The findings could be used in the design of nanostructured materials for superior toughness and deformation stability.