Processing, characterization and mechanical behavior of novel aluminum/silicon carbide metal-ceramic nanolaminates

Nanoscale laminated composites are a novel class of materials with excellent mechanical properties like strength, flexibility, and toughness. Properties in these materials can be tailored by varying layer thicknesses, microstructure, and controlling internal stresses. Most of research to-date has focused on metal-metal and ceramic-ceramic laminates. The field of metal-ceramic laminates has remained relatively unexplored. From a mechanical structure point of view, metal-ceramic systems present a good combination of strength and hardness. Hence, there is a need for understanding and evaluating these composites in nanolaminate form.;In this work, the deformation behavior of Al-SiC nanolaminates as a model system has been studied. The work has been categorized into 3 major areas of research. The first involves processing and microstructural characterization of these novel materials. Nanoscale Al/SiC layered composites were fabricated using magnetron sputtering. Samples with varying volume fractions of Al and SiC were synthesized. The second area involves quantifying the residual stresses in these materials. These are quantified by x-ray synchrotron and beam-curvature techniques. The third area focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanisms for deformation damage, and fracture under indentation and micro-compression loading. Fracture/Damage analysis is carried out using focused ion beam (FIB) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).;The systematic study has revealed the enhanced mechanical properties of metal-ceramic nanolaminates and the fundamental mechanisms governing the strength and failure of these materials. It has been found that Al/SiC metal-ceramic systems can exhibit high strength together with high toughness and flexibility. High compressive residual stresses are generated during the sputter deposition of these nanolaminates which are associated with the large number of interfaces present in the nanolaminate architecture. The mechanical properties (hardness and modulus) of such a system can be reasonable be measured using nanoindentation however the inhomogeneous stress state can lead to complicated and erroneous results. This has been resolved by using a micro-compression approach and various parameters affecting micro-compression testing are evaluated. Material properties of Al/SiC nanolaminates are accurately determined using micro-compression testing approach.