The Size Dependent Deformation and Strengthening Mechanisms of Nanolayered Co/Ag Micropillars

Abstract

Using the micropillar compression technique, the size effect on deformation and strengthening mechanisms of the Co/Ag micropillars with an individual thickness ranging from 2 to 100 nm were investigated. The results show that the deformation mechanism of Co/Ag micropillars is intrinsically size dependent, evolving from extrusion of the Ag layer for individual layer thickness hi = 100 nm to pure shear localization for hi ≤ 10 nm. Meanwhile, the dominant strengthening mechanism transforms from Hall–Petch scaling to confined layer slip and then to interface crossing of single dislocation with the decreasing hi.