Microstructure and mechanical properties of co-sputtered Al-SiC composites

Nanolaminates have gained much attention due to exceptional mechanical, optical, electrical and biological properties. In this work, we explore the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-SiC co-sputtered monolayers having different compositions. Co-sputtering enables tailoring the microstructure at an atomic level and hence is a promising route to develop new generation of materials. These co-sputtered samples were characterized through FIB/SEM, TEM and XPS. They had an amorphous microstructure, with the exception of nanocrystalline Al aggregates present in one of the compositions. The micromechanical properties were studied through nanoindentation. We observed that the modulus and hardness of the co-sputtered samples were much higher than traditional Al/SiC nanolaminate samples having the same composition. [Display omitted] •Novel co-sputtered monolayers of Al-SiC were synthesized by magnetron sputtering.•Thorough materials characterization showed a unique nanostructure that results in extremely high modulus and hardness compared to classical Al-SiC nanolaminates.•A unique nanostructure consisting of Al, SiC, Si, and C was obtained.