Interfacial Strengthening in Semi-Coherent Metallic Multilayers

Experimental results show that a nanolayered composite structure made of two kinds of metals strengthens dramatically as the layer thickness is reduced. In epitaxial systems, this strengthening has been attributed classically, to the modulus and lattice parameter mismatches between adjacent layers. The modulus mismatch introduces a force between a dislocation and its image in the interface. The lattice parameter mismatch generates stresses and mismatch dislocations which interact with mobile dislocations. In addition to these two interactions, there is the difficulty of operating a Frank-Read source in any very thin layer. However, the calculations suffer from the drawback that elasticity theory is being used at such short range from the dislocations that it is not strictly valid. In this paper the issues in strengthening of multilayer systems are defined within a simple analytical model. Additionally, a parametric approach using the atomistic embedded atom method (EAM), is developed to study, dislocation-interface interactions in metallic multilayers. Preliminary results of the atomistic calculations verify that Koehler strengthening is significant especially when the lamellae are very thin. For thicker lamellae the lattice parameter mismatch effects, which have been modelled within continuum theory, contribute increasingly to the strength. In Cu-Ni, the peak in the yield stress occurs when single dislocations must overcome both barriers. The yield stress drops in thicker lamellae as pile ups of increasing length form in the lamellae, finally conforming to the Hall-Petch equation.