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Microstructure and properties of Cu-C pseudoalloy films prepared by sputter deposition

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Abstract

The microstructure and properties of Cu-C pseudoalloy films prepared by R.F. magnetron sputtering have been investigated. As Cu and C are mutually immiscible, nonequilibrium supersaturated solid solutions of C in Cu with nanocrystalline microstructures were observed in as-deposited films. Upon heating of the films, three major transition events took place. Recovery occurred at ∼280 to 300 °C, while at ∼400 °C, crystallites started to growth and coalescence, due to the release of strain energies stored during deposition. Annealing at above 600 °C led to the occurrence of grain growth and altered the microstructure considerably. Although attempts have been made in this study, a possible annealing-induced phase separation could not be unambiguously identified. Yet, the fact of low twin densities and fine grain structures observed in the annealed films suggests that the extensive grain growth was impeded by the presence of carbon. Resistivity and hardness properties correlated well with the film microstructure and were governed by the impurity effect of carbon. Low-carbon Cu-C films yielded relatively low resistivity, attributable to the improved film microstructure. Hardness results indicated the strengthening of films was mainly due to fine structure, presence of carbon, and grain refinement by annealing twins.

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Author notes

  1. C. H. Chung (Graduate Student, Engineer)

    Present address: the National Taiwan Ocean University Institute of Materials Engineering, China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Institute of Materials Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University, 202, Keelung, Taiwan, Republic of China

    J. P. Chu (Associate Professor) & P. Y. Lee (Professor and Chairman)

  2. Mosel Vitelic (Taiwan) Inc., 300, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China

    C. H. Chung (Graduate Student, Engineer)

  3. the Department of Materials and Mechanical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294-4461, Birmingham, AL

    J. M. Rigsbee (Professor and Chairman)

  4. the Materials Testing and Evaluation Section, Materials Research and Development Center, Chun Shan Institute of Science and Technology, 325, Lungtan, Taiwan, Republic of China

    J. Y. Wang (Deputy Section Head)

Authors
  1. J. P. Chu
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  2. P. Y. Lee
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  3. C. H. Chung
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  4. J. M. Rigsbee
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  5. J. Y. Wang
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Chu, J.P., Lee, P.Y., Chung, C.H. et al. Microstructure and properties of Cu-C pseudoalloy films prepared by sputter deposition. Metall Mater Trans A 29, 647–658 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-998-0145-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-998-0145-7

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