I. N. Mastorakos; R. L. Schoeppner; B. Kowalczyk; D. F. Bahr
Journal of Materials Research 32 (2017) 2542-2550
Nanoscale metallic material composites consisting of bilayer and trilayer systems of two and three different metallic alternating layers show significant gains in hardness over monolithic single phase films. One of the main applications of these composites can be as protective coatings to technical components to increase their lifespan acting as a mechanical barrier to the carriers of permanent deformation. In this work, we study the strength of bilayer structures made of alternating layers of niobium (Nb) and copper-nickel (Cu-Ni) alloys. The effect of the layer size and composition on strength and hardening as well as the effect of the metal-alloy interface on the dislocation motion is investigated. The simulations reveal a close relationship between the atomic composition of the alloy and the hardening of the film. The results are also compared with experimental findings on nanopillars made of similar structures, and strong similarities are revealed and discussed.