Nanoscale deformation mechanism of TiC/a-C nanocomposite thin films

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3130123· OSTI ID:21352236

Chen, C Q; Pei, Y T; Shaha, K P

This paper concentrates on the deformation behavior of amorphous diamondlike carbon composite materials. Combined nanoindentation and ex situ cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy investigations are carried out on TiC/a-C nanocomposite films, with and without multilayered structures deposited by pulse dc magnetron sputtering. It is shown that by controlling the distribution of nanocrystallites forming nanoscale multilayers, the system can be used as a 'microstructural ruler' that is able to distinguish various deformation patterns, which can be hardly detected otherwise in a homogeneous structure. It is shown that rearrangement of nanocrystallites and displacement of a-C matrix occur at length scales from tens of nanometer down to 1 nm. At submicrometer scale homogeneous nucleation of multiple shear bands has been observed within the nanocomposites. The multilayered structure in the TiC/a-C nanocomposite film contributes to an enhanced toughness.

• OSTI ID: 21352236
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 105; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
AMORPHOUS STATE
CARBIDES
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
DEFORMATION
DEPOSITION
DIAMONDS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELECTRON TUBES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FILMS
MAGNETRONS
MATERIALS
MICROSCOPY
MICROSTRUCTURE
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
MICROWAVE TUBES
MINERALS
NANOSTRUCTURES
NONMETALS
NUCLEATION
SPUTTERING
THIN FILMS
TITANIUM CARBIDES
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY