Influence of substrate type on deformation specificity of soft film/hard substrate coated systems under nanomicroindentation

ABSTRACT

This work is devoted to the study of the effect of a substrate chemical bonding type on the mechanical properties of coated systems (CSs) of a soft film/hard substrate type. The Cu/MgO and Cu/Si coated systems, as well as MgO and Si substrate crystals, which have similar hardness values but different types of chemical bonds, were studied. Various elastoplastic parameters were compared. The general and specific features of the deformation process under nanomicroindentation were identified. It has been established that general properties, such as ‘pop-in’, ‘pop-out’, ‘elbow’ effects, indentation size effect (ISE), are determined by the stress state created in the material during the indenter penetration and depend on the magnitude of the applied load and the film thickness. The specific properties, Young's modulus, hardness, relaxation parameters depend on the crystal structure and elastoplastic properties of the film and substrate material. The difference in the type of chemical bonding of the substrates, despite the close values of hardness, changes the elastoplastic properties and deformation mechanism of the composite structure as a whole, thereby expanding the possibility of creating new materials required for modern technology.

Highlights

• Study of the effect of a substrate chemical bonding type on the mechanical properties of soft film/hard substrate (Cu/MgO, Cu/Si) coated systems.

• The difference in the type of chemical bonding of the substrates, despite the close values ⁣⁣of hardness, changes the elastoplastic properties and deformation mechanism of the composite structure as a whole.

KEYWORDS:

• Depth-sensing indentation
• Cu/MgO and Cu/Si coated systems
• chemical bond
• hardness
• elastoplastic properties
• deformation mechanism

Acknowledgements

This work is supported financially by the National Agency for Research and Development of the Republic of Moldova under the grant no.20.80009.5007.18

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Agency for Research and Development of the Republic of Moldova [ANCD Project 20.80009.5007.18 / Obtaining new micro- and nanostructured materials by physicochemical methods and developing technologies based on them].