We have investigated the effect of ion bombardment on the structure and hardness of thin coatings of TiN/NbN multilayered structures and monolithic films of both TiN and NbN. A radio frequency coil was used to generate an additional inductively coupled plasma between the substrate and the target enabling the sample to be bombarded by a high flux of relatively low energy ions under the appropriate conditions. It is shown that the effect of such bombardment in the case of the monolithic films is to reduce the porosity. This gave an increase in the hardness of both the TiN and the NbN films up to a power of 100 W (using a coil with a cross-sectional area of 2 × 103 mm2). Further increasing the power density led to a decrease in hardness. TiN/NbN multilayer coatings were made under the optimum deposition conditions for the monolithic materials and gave hardnesses greater than those observed in either TiN or NbN and approximately 50% greater than that predicted by a mixtures rule.

The elastic and plastic deformation of micron size anisotropic polycrystals of Ni3Al and Cu3Au intermetallic alloys have been studied under non-hydrostatic conditions by energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDX) in a diamond-anvil cell. Compression was achieved by confining the samples in a viscous fluid or directly between the diamond anvils. Deviatoric forces are introduced in the samples as a result of the increasing viscosity with pressure and the eventual glassification of the pressurizing medium or by the contact forces of the diamond anvils. Line shifts and line profiles were used to analyze elastic and plastic strains. Plastic deformation is due to the onset of non-hydrostatic stresses and the introduction of stacking faults and dislocations. A volume incompressibility due to plastic deformation and the saturation of the stacking fault probability is followed by an elastic compression of a fully plastically deformed state. The compression of this state is isotropic and independent of the presence and type of the pressurizing medium. From the measured strains at different crystallographic orientations, the uniaxial stress and the stacking fault probability as a function of the confining pressure are derived and their role in the equation of state is examined. Using finite elasticity, the equation of state is derived in the presence of uniaxial stresses causing stacking faults, defects and dislocations.

Some composite materials of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) with organophilic clays and an organic crystal accelerator (OCA) were prepared by melt compounding method to improve the rate of crystallization and mechanical properties, especially heat distortion temperature (HDT). The PLA/clay nanocomposite with 2.9wt% of finely dispersed organophilic clay and 1wt% of the OCA showed an exothermic peak corresponding to its crystallization at 1.9 minutes in the isothermal measurement of DSC at 100°C from its molten state, although PLA itself did not show a clear peak in the same procedure. Crystallized specimens of the nanocomposite were well obtained by injection molding when the hold time was set at more than 90 seconds. The HDT of the specimens that were held for more than 120 seconds in the mold exceeded 120°C. It is about 65°C higher than amorphous PLA. The crystallized specimen with 1wt% of the clay showed higher tensile modulus and Izod impact strength than the amorphous one.

Molecular dynamics simulation and equivalent continuum modeling were used to calculate the elastic constants of 1,3-bis(4-aminophenoxy-4′-benzoyl) benzene (1,3-BABB)/single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) materials. The calculated Young's moduli are compared with storage moduli measured experimentally with nanoindentation. Excellent agreement is observed between the calculated and measured modulus values for the 1,3-BABB/SWNT materials.

The microstructural evolution in a nanostructured Al-Mg alloy fabricated by cryogenic mechanical alloying (cryomilling), was investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Nanostructured Al-Mg powders were first synthesized by a mechanical alloying under liquid nitrogen media (cryomilling), and the powders were subsequently degassed, hot isostatically pressed, and extruded into a full dense, bulk form. The results showed that Si containing phases and (Fe,Ni)Al intermetallics existed in as-extruded Al-Mg alloy. In addition, the extrusion temperature has a strong influence on the formation of microstructural anisotropy. A lower extrusion temperature yields a microstructure that is more anisotropic relative to that present at the higher extrusion temperature. More specifically, at the lower temperature, the nano-sized Al grains have a tendency to rotate towards the <111> direction, along the extrusion direction.

The deformation of copper with grain size less than 10 nm is investigated using a 2D continuum model incorporating atomistically-based constitutive relations. The local constitutive response of a series of symmetric and asymmetric tilt grain boundaries is obtained using an atomistic quasicontinuum method under tension and shear. The atomistic results show that it is possible to associate a constant maximum stress with each deformation mechanism triggered in the GB vicinity, i.e. GB sliding and decohesion, atom shuffling and partial dislocation emission. The GB strength is always found weaker in shear than in tension. This information is incorporated into a continuum polycrystalline model tested under compression. This model provides useful insights, in the absence of intragranular plasticity, into the onset of macroscopic quasi-plasticity, which results from GB sliding and collective grain rotation mechanisms.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have exceptional mechanical and functional properties. Many researchers consider SWNTs as the most promising reinforcement for realizing the optimal structural and multifunctional potential of the next generation of high performance nanocomposites. However, due to poor dispersion, weak interfacial bonding and deficient tube orientation, current nanotube-based nanocomposites fail to realize their anticipated properties. A new approach was developed by the authors to use preformed nanotube tube networks (called buckypapers) and a resin infiltration method for producing bulk polymeric nanocomposites with controlled nanostructure and high tube loading. Desired tube alignment in nanocomposites can be achieved by using magnetically aligned carbon nanotube buckypapers, in which SWNTs will tend to align along the direction of applied magnetic field. The mechanical properties of the resultant nanocomposites have been tested. The storage modulus of the magnetically aligned nanocomposites is as high as 47 GPa, which is one of the highest reported values of nanotube-reinforced composites.

In this research, we investigated the influences of tube dispersion, loading and orientation on the mechanical properties of SWNT-reinforced composites. Random and aligned discontinuous reinforcement models of composites were applied to predict the tensile moduli of both individually dispersed SWNT-based and SWNT rope-based nanocomposites. The nanostructural parameters used in the calculation models were determined based on our experimental observations. Comparisons between theoretical estimates and experimental results have shown that the formation of SWNT ropes in the composites has a significant influence on the mechanical properties. The experimental results of the both random and aligned SWNT rope composites are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions.

Ultrathin polymer films have been deposited on both multi-wall and aligned carbon nanotubes using a plasma polymerization treatment. TEM experimental results showed that a thin film of polystyrene layer (several nanometers) was uniformly deposited on the surfaces of the nanotubes including inner wall surfaces of the multi-wall nanotubes. The coated multi-wall nanotubes were mixed in polymer solutions for studying the effects of plasma coating on dispersion. It was found that the dispersion of multi-wall carbon nanotubes in polystyrene composite was significantly improved. The deposition mechanisms and the effects of plasma treatment parameters are discussed.

The early stages of stress development during epitaxial growth of metal layers with a large misfit in lattice parameters still need in-depth understanding. In this particular study we have focused on Ag-Cu system, which is immiscible and exhibit a large 14% misfit in lattice parameters. Ag/Cu multilayers have been grown by ultrahigh-vacuum evaporation on Si (111) maintained at -20°C, 35°C or 110°C. The thickness of the individual layers is about 100 Å. All the films present the same (111) orientation with a well defined in-plane orientation: <110> Cu or Ag // <110> Si. The stress was monitored during growth with a home-made laser curvature measurement device. The stress vs thickness behaviour is highly asymmetric when comparing Ag/Cu and Cu/Ag. Indeed Ag grown on Cu does not develop any measurable stress at any thickness or temperature, whereas Cu grows on Ag under tensile temperature and thickness-dependent stress. The temperature dependence of this stress relaxation cannot be interpreted with a standard relaxation model including dislocation motion. A possible way to understand the stress temperature dependence is to consider the evolution of microstructure during growth.

Nanoscale polycrystalline metals typically exhibit increasing hardness with decreasing grain size down to a critical value on the order of 5 to 30 nm. Below this, a plateau or decrease is often observed. Similar observations are made for nanoscale multilayer thin films. There, TEM observations and modeling suggest that the hardness peak may be associated with the inability of interfaces to contain dislocations within individual nanoscale layers. This manuscript pursues the same concept for nanoscale polycrystalline metals via an analytic study of dislocation nucleation and motion within a regular 2D hexagonal array of grains. The model predicts a hardness peak and loss of dislocation confinement in the 5 to 30 nm grain size regime, but only if the nature of dislocation interaction with grain boundaries changes in the nanoscale regime.

High molecular weight polyaniline / multi-walled carbon nanotube composite films were fabricated using solution processing. Composite films with various weight percentages of multiwalled carbon nanotubes were fabricated. Physical properties of these composites were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis, tensile testing, and scanning electron microscopy. These results indicate that the addition of multiwalled nanotubes to polyaniline significantly enhances the mechanical properties of the films. In addition, metal–semiconductor (composite) (MS) contact devices were fabricated, and it was observed that the current level in the films increased with increasing multiwalled nanotube content. Furthermore, it was observed that polyaniline containing one weight percent of carbon nanotubes appears to be the most promising composition for applications in organic electronic devices.

Quantized high-frequency (∼1016 Hz) correlated longitudinal electron excitations (plasmons) generated in the energy-loss range 0–50 eV by fast electrons passing through any solid enable one to probe various states of matter. Their energy, Ep, is directly related to the density of valence electrons, thus allowing determination of solid-state properties that are governed by ground-state densities. Universal features and scaling in relations between Ep and the cohesive energy per atomic volume, bonding electron density and elastic constants have been established. The resulting correlations follow the universal binding energy relationship, thus providing new insights into the fundamental nature of structure-property relationships. They allow direct in situ determination of local material properties in an analytical electron microscope, as illustrated by examples utilizing Al- and Ti-based structural alloys.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) phase imaging and tensile stress-strain measurements are used to study a series of model compression molded fumed silica filled polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) samples with filler content of zero, 20, 35, and 50 parts per hundred (phr) to determine the relationship between filler content and stress-strain properties. AFM phase imaging was used to determine filler size, degree of aggregation, and distribution within the soft PDMS matrix. A small tensile stage was used to measure mechanical properties. Samples were not pulled to break in order to study Mullins and aging effects. Several identical 35 phr samples were subjected to an initial stress, and then one each was reevaluated over intervals up to 26 weeks to determine the degree to which these samples recovered their initial stress-strain behavior as a function of time. One sample was tested before and after heat treatment to determine if heating accelerated recovery of the stress-strain behavior. The effect of filler surface treatment on mechanical properties was examined for two samples containing 35 phr filler treated or untreated with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDZ), respectively. Fiduciary marks were used on several samples to determine permanent set. 35 phr filler samples were found to give the optimum mechanical properties. A clear Mullins effect was seen. Within experimental error, no change was seen in mechanical behavior as a function of time or heat-treatment. The mechanical properties of the sample containing the HDMZ treated silica were adversely affected. AFM phase images revealed aggregation and nonuniform distribution of the filler for all samples. Finally, a permanent set of about 3 to 6 percent was observed for the 35 phr samples.

A scheme for calculating the stress intensity factor at the crack tip in a two-dimensional bimaterial laminate composite has been developed to model the damage tolerance obtained in brittle ceramics by using this geometry. One limitation of the model is its assumption of homogenous elastic properties throughout the composite, limiting the accuracy of predictions it can make about real material systems. Finite element simulations of the same architecture that allow for elastic modulus mismatch give results that are moderately different from those obtained from the homogeneous model. We present an analytical expression for the stress intensity factor around a crack tip in a laminated composite that can take into account the elastic modulus mismatch. To make the problem tractable, the model is based on the assumption that the system behaves as a homogeneous anisotropic material when the stress field at the crack tip arises out of far field tractions applied away from the crack tip. The model improves upon the homogeneous model, giving results that are closer to those from the finite element simulations. We, however, conclude that more work is required to predict the stresses at the tip as the crack approaches a material interface before a complete analytical model can be obtained.

Single wall (SWNT) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were electrostatically assembled into nanofibers through an electrospinning process in order to increase the strength and toughness of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-derived carbon fibers. It was found that the effectiveness of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in reinforcing the PAN precursor is highly dependent on the dispersion and the alignment of the CNT. Alignment was achieved during electrospinning by the flow of polymer, electrostatic charge and diameter confinement. Up to 10 wt. % SWNT co-electrospun with PAN was successfully produced with fiber diameters in the range of 40 nm to 400 nm. With the addition of 1 wt. % SWNT, a two-fold increase in strength and modulus was obtained in the as-spun nanofibers mat. These encouraging results show a promising pathway to produce the next generation of high performance carbon fibers that will help bridge dimensional and properties gap between nanoscopic and macroscopic structures.

This contribution presents challenges to control the microstructure in nano-structured materials via a relatively new approach, i.e. using a so-called nanocluster source. An important aspect is that the cluster size distribution is monodisperse and that the kinetic energy of the clusters during deposition can be varied. Interestingly the clusters are grown in extreme non-equilibrium conditions, which allow obtaining metastable structures of metals and alloys. Because one avoids the effects of nucleation and growth on a specific substrate one may tailor the properties of the films by choosing the appropriate preparation conditions.