Nanoindentation behavior of nanolayered metal-ceramic composites

  • X. Deng
  • C. Cleveland
  • N. Chawla
  • T. Karcher
  • M. Koopman
  • K. K. Chawla
Nanomaterials

Abstract

Small-length scale multilayered structures are attractive materials due to their extremely high strength and flexibility, relative to conventional laminated composites. In this study, nanolayered laminated composites of Al and SiC were synthesized by DC/RF magnetron sputtering. The microstructure of the multilayered structures was characterized, and the mechanical properties measured by nanoindentation testing. The influence of layer thickness on Young’s modulus and hardness of individual and multilayers was quantified. An analytical model was used to subtract the contribution of the Si substrate, to extract the true modulus of the films.

Keywords

Al-SiC composite laminated composite magnetron sputtering nanoindentation nanomaterials 

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. 1.
    A.M. El-Sherik, U. Erb, G. Palumbo, and K.T. Aust, Deviations from Hall-Petch Behaviour in As-Prepared Nanocrystalline Nickel, Scr. Metall. Mater., Vol 27 (No. 9), 1992, p 1185–1188CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. 2.
    Y. Wang and N. Herron, Nanometer-Sized Semiconductor Clusters: Materials Synthesis, Quantum Size Effects, and Photophysical Properties, J. Phys. Chem., Vol 95 (No. 2), 1991, p 525–532CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. 3.
    S. Zhang, D. Sun, Y. Fu, and H. Du, Recent Advances of Superhard Nanocomposite Coatings: A Review, Surf. Coat Technol., Vol 167, 2003, p 113–119CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. 4.
    D.T. Read, Tension-Tension Fatigue of Copper Thin Films, Int. J. Fatigue, Vol 20, 1998, p 203–209CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. 5.
    Y.W. Yu Denis and Frans Spaepen, The Yield Strength of Thin Copper Films on Kapton, J. Appl. Phys., Vol 95, 2004, p 2991–2997CrossRefADSGoogle Scholar
  6. 6.
    D.T. Read, Yi-Wen Cheng, R.R. Keller, and J.D. McColskey, Tensile Properties of Free-Standing Aluminum Thin Films, Scr. Mater., Vol 45, 2001, p 583–589CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. 7.
    Y.S. Kang and P.S. Ho, Thickness Dependent Mechanical Behavior of Submicron Aluminum Films, J. Electron. Mater. 1997, Vol 26 (No. 7), 1997, p 805–813Google Scholar
  8. 8.
    M.A. Haque and M.T. Saif, Mechanical Behavior of 30–50 nm Thick Aluminum Films Under Uniaxial Tension, Scr. Mater., Vol 47, 2002, p 863–867CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    F.R. Brotzen, Mechanical Testing of Thin Films, International Materials Reviews, Vol 39 (No. 1), 1994, p 24–45Google Scholar
  10. 10.
    H. Huang and F. Spaepen, Tensile Testing of Free-Standing Cu, Ag, and Al Thin Films and Ag/Cu Multilayers, Acta Mater., Vol 48, 2000, p 3261–3269CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    D.T. Read and J.W. Dally, Fatigue of Microlithographically-Patterned Free-Standing Aluminum Thin Film Under Axial Stresses, J. Electron. Packaging, Vol 117, 1995, p 1–6Google Scholar
  12. 12.
    C. Daniel, A. Lasagni, and F. Mucklich, Stress and Texture Evolution of Ni/Al Multi-Film by Laser Interference Irradiation, Surf. Coat Technol., Vol 180–181, 2004, p 478–482CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    J. Schumann, W. Brückner, and A. Heinrich, Properties and Applications of Vacuum-Deposited Cu-Cr Films, Thin Solid Films, Vol 228, 1993, p 44–48CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. 14.
    A.T. Alpas, J.D. Embury, D.A. Hardwick, and R.W. Springer, The Mechanical Properties of Laminated Microscale Composites of Al/Al2O3, J. Mater. Sci., 1990, Vol 25, 1990, p 1603–1609CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. 15.
    D.O. Northwood and A.T. Alpas, Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Nanocrystalline and Nanolaminated Surface Coatings, Nanostruct. Mater., 1998, Vol 10 (No. 5), 1998, p 777–793CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. 16.
    G.T. Mearini and R.W. Hoffman, Tensile Properties of Aluminum/Alumina Multi-Layered Thin Films, J. Elect. Mater., Vol 22 (No. 6), 1993, p 623–629Google Scholar
  17. 17.
    T.C. Chou, T.G. Nieh, S.D. McAdams, G.M. Pharr, and W.C. Oliver, Mechanical Properties and Microstructures of Metal/Ceramic Microlaminates: Part II. A Mo/Al2O3 System, J. Mater. Res., Vol 7 (No. 10), 1992, p 2774–2784ADSGoogle Scholar
  18. 18.
    C.H. Liu, Wen-Zhi Li, and Heng-De Li, TiC/Metal Nacreous Structures and Their Fracture Toughness Increase, J. Mater. Res., Vol 11 (No. 9), 1996, p 2231–2235ADSGoogle Scholar
  19. 19.
    J. Romero, A. Lousa, E. Martinez, and J. Esteve, Nanometric Chromium/Chromium Carbide Multilayers for Tribological Applications, Surf. Coat. Technol., Vol 163–164, 2003, p 392–397CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. 20.
    T.C. Chou, T.G. Niwh, T.Y. Tsui, G.M. Pharr, and W.C. Oliver, Mechanical Properties and Microstructures of Metal/Ceramic Microlaminates: Part I. Nb/MoSi2 Systems, J. Mater. Res., Vol 7 (No. 10), 1992, p 2765–2773ADSGoogle Scholar
  21. 21.
    M. Ben Daia, P. Aubert, S. Labdi, C. Sant, F.A. Sadi, Ph. Houdy, and J.L. Bozet, Nanoindentation Investigation of Ti/TiN Multilayers Films, J. Appl. Phys., Vol 87, 2000, p 7753–7757CrossRefADSGoogle Scholar
  22. 22.
    Jeong Hoon Lee, Won Mok Kim, Taek Sung Lee, Moon Kyo Chung, Byung-ki Cheong, and Soon Gwang Kim, Mechanical and Adhesion Properties of Al/AlN Multilayered Thin Films, Surf. Coat. Technol., Vol 133–134, 2000, p 220–226CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. 23.
    T. de los Arcos, P. Oelhafen, U. Aebi, A. Hefti, M. Duggelin, D. Mathys, and R. Guggenheim, Preparation and Characterization of TiN-Ag Nanocomposite Films, Vacuum, Vol 67, 2002, p 463–470CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. 24.
    M.A. Phillips, B.M. Clemens, and W.D. Nix, Microstructure and Nanoindentation Hardness of Al/Al3Sc Multilayers, Acta Mater., Vol 51, 2003, p 3171–3184CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. 25.
    A. Lousa, J. Romero, E. Martýnez, J. Esteve, F. Montala, and L. Carreras, Multilayered Chromium/Chromium Nitride Coatings for Use in Pressure Die-Casting, Surf. Coat. Technol., Vol 146–147, 2001, p 268–273CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. 26.
    D-H. Kuo and K-H. Tzeng, Characterization and Properties of R.F.-Sputtered Thin Films of the Alumina-Titania System, Thin Solid Films, Vol 460, 2004, p 327–334CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. 27.
    V.P. Godbole, K. Dovidenko, A.K. Sharma, and J. Narayan, Thermal Reactions and Micro-Structure of TiN-AlN Layered Nano-Composites, Mater. Sci. Eng., Vol B68, 1999, p 85–90CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. 28.
    P. Zhou, H-Y. You, J-H. Jia, J. Li, T. Han, S-Y. Wang, R-J. Zhang, Y-X. Zheng, and L-Y. Chen, Concentration and Size Dependence of Optical Properties of Ag:Bi2O3 Composite Films by Using the Co-Sputtering Method, Thin Solid Films, Vol 455–456, 2004, p 605–608CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. 29.
    B. Miller and H. Ferkel, Al2O3-Nanoparticle Distribution in Plated Nickel Composite Films, Nanostruct. Mater., Vol 10 (No. 8), 1998, p 1285–1288CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  30. 30.
    A. Robertson, U. Erb, and G. Palumbo, Practical Applications for Electrodeposited Nanocrystalline Materials, Nanostruct. Mater., Vol 12, 1999, p 1035–1040CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. 31.
    A. Moller and H. Hahn, Synthesis and Characterization of Nanocrystalline Ni/ZrO2 Composite Coatings, Nanostruct. Mater., Vol 12, 1999, p 259–262CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. 32.
    D. Sporn, J. Großmann, A. Kaiser, R. Jahn, and A. Berger, Sol-Gel Processing of Nanostructured Ceramic and Ceramic/Metal Composite Materials, Nanostruct. Mater., Vol 6, 1995, p 329–332CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  33. 33.
    W. Liu, Y. Chen, G. Kou, T. Xu, and D.C. Sun, Characterization and Mechanical/Tribological Properties of Nano Au-TiO2 Composite Thin Films Prepared by a Sol-Gel Process, Wear, Vol 254, 2003 p 994–1000CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. 34.
    A. Colclough, B. Dempster, Y. Favry, and D. Valentin, Thermomechanical Behaviour of SiC-Al Composites, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, Vol 135, 1991, p 203–207CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. 35.
    V. Ganesh and N. Chawla, Effect of Reinforcement-Particle-Orientation Anisotropy on the Tensile and Fatigue Behavior of Metal-Matrix Composites, Metall. Mater. Trans. A, Vol 35A, 2004, p 53–61CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. 36.
    C.K. Syn, D.R. Lesuer, and O.D. Sherby, Enhancing Tensile Ductility of a Particulate-Reinforced Aluminum Metal Matrix Composite by Lamination with Mg-9%Li Alloy, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, Vol 206, 1996, p 201–207CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  37. 37.
    W.C. Oliver and G.M. Pharr, An Improved Technique for Determining Hardness and Elastic Modulus Using Load and Displacement Sensing Indentation Experiments, J. Mater. Res., Vol 7 (No. 6), 1992, p 1564–1583ADSGoogle Scholar
  38. 38.
    X. Li and B. Bhushan, A Review of Nanoindentation Continuous Stiffness Measurement Technique and Its Applications, Mater. Characterization, Vol 48, 2002, p 11–36CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  39. 39.
    H. Gao, C. H. Chiu, and J. Lee, Int. J. Solids Struct., Vol 29, 1992, p 2471–2492CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  40. 40.
    A. Deng, N. Chawla, K.K. Chawla, and M. Koopman, Acta Mater., Vol 52, 2004, p 4291–4303CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  41. 41.
    X. Deng, M. Koopman, N. Chawla, and K.K. Chawla: Mater. Sci. Eng., Vol 364, 2004, p 241–243Google Scholar
  42. 42.
    J. Mencik, D. Munz, E. Quandt, E.R. Weppelmann, and M.V. Swain, Determination of Elastic Modulus of Thin Layers Using Nanoindentation, J. Mater. Res., Vol 12 (No. 9), 1997, p 2475–2484ADSGoogle Scholar
  43. 43.
    M.F. Doerner and W.D. Nix, A Method for Interpreting the Data from Depth-Sensing Indentation Instruments, J. Mater. Res., Vol 1, 1986, p 601–609ADSGoogle Scholar
  44. 44.
    R. Saha and W.D. Nix, Effects of the Substrate on the Determination of Thin Film Mechanical Properties by Nanoindentation, Acta Mater., Vol 50, 2002, p 23–38CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  45. 45.
    R.B. King, Elastic Analysis of Some Punch Problems for a Layered Medium, Int. J. Solids Struct., Vol 23, 1987, p 1657–1664MATHCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  46. 46.
    G.M. Pharr and W.C. Oliver, Measurement of Thin Film Mechanical Properties Using Nanoindentation, MRS Bull., Vol 17 (No. 7), 1992, p 28–33Google Scholar
  47. 47.
    C. Gamonpilas and E.P. Busso, On the Effect of Substrate Properties on the Indentation Behaviour of Coated Systems, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, Vol 380, 2004, p 52–61CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  48. 48.
    M.T. Kim, Influence of Substrates on the Elastic Reaction of Films for the Microindentation Tests, Thin Solid Films, Vol 283, 1996, p 12–16CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  49. 49.
    N. Chawla, V.V. Ganesh, and B. Wunsch, Three-Dimensional (3D) Microstructure Visualization and Nite Element Modeling of the Mechanical Behavior of SiC Particle Reinforced Aluminum Composites, Scr. Mater., Vol 51, 2004, p 161–165CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  50. 50.
    X. Deng, unpublished dataGoogle Scholar
  51. 51.
    Y.S. Kang and P.S. Ho, Thickness Dependent Mechanical Behavior of Submicron Aluminum Films, J. Electron. Mater., Vol 26 (No. 7), 1997, p 805–813Google Scholar
  52. 52.
    H. Leiste, U. Dambacher, S. Ulrich, and H. Holleck, Microstructure and Properties of Multilayer Coatings with Covalent Bonded Hard Materials, Surf. Coatings Technol., vol. 116–119, 1999, p 313–320.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  53. 53.
    K.-D. Bouzakis, N. Michailidis, S. Hadjiyiannis, G. Skordaris, and G. Erkens, The Effect of Specimen Roughness and Indenter Tip Geometry on the Determination Accuracy of Thin Hard Coatings Stress-Strain Laws by Nanoindentation, Mater. Characterization, Vol. 49, 2003, p 149–156CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  54. 54.
    J-Y. Seo, S-Y. Yoon, K. Niihara, and K.H. Kim, Growth and Microhardness of SiC Films by Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition, Thin Solid Films, Vol 406, 2002, p 138–144CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  55. 55.
    J.S. Koehler, Attempt to Design a Strong Solid, Phys. Rev., Vol B2, 1970, p 547–551ADSGoogle Scholar
  56. 56.
    S.L. Lehoczky, Retardation of Dislocation Generation and Motion in Thin-Layered Metal Laminates, Phys. Rev. Lett., Vol 41, 1978, p 1814–1818CrossRefADSGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© ASM International 2005

Authors and Affiliations

  • X. Deng
    • 1
  • C. Cleveland
    • 1
  • N. Chawla
    • 1
  • T. Karcher
    • 2
  • M. Koopman
    • 3
  • K. K. Chawla
    • 3
  1. 1.Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Fulton School of EngineeringArizona State UniversityTempe
  2. 2.Center for Solid State Science, College of Liberal Arts and ScienceArizona State UniversityTempe
  3. 3.Department of Materials Science and EngineeringUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham

Personalised recommendations