Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Size dependent strengthening mechanisms in sputtered Fe/W multilayers

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3400130· OSTI ID:21476178
; ;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering Program, Texas A and M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3123 (United States)
  2. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A and M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3128 (United States)

We investigate size dependent strengthening mechanisms in sputtered Fe/W multilayers with individual layer thickness, h, varying from 1 to 200 nm. Microstructure analyses reveal that Fe/W has incoherent bcc/bcc interface when h is greater than 5 nm. When h decreases to 1-2.5 nm, the interface becomes semicoherent, and Fe and W show significant lattice distortions comparing to their bulk counterpart due to interface constraint. The layer thickness dependent drastic variations in x-ray diffraction profiles are simulated well by using an analytical model. Film hardness increases with decreasing h, and approaches a maximum value of 12.5 GPa when h is 1 nm. The layer thickness dependent film hardnesses are compared with analytical models. Koehler's image force plays a major role in determining the maximum strength of composites at smaller h.

OSTI ID:
21476178
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 107; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English