Intergranular films at metal–ceramic interfaces Part I – interface structure and chemistry

In this work the structure and chemistry of intergranular films at metal-ceramic interfaces was investigated via detailed microstructural characterization of model metalAl2O3 nanocomposites. We report here experimental results indicating the formation and stability of equilibrium nanometer-thick films at metal-ceramic interfaces. Thin ~1 nm interface films were observed for two different metal-alumina systems (Ni and Cu) doped with glass-forming additives. High spatial resolution energy dispersive spectroscopy showed a difference in the chemical composition of the films at Ni-alumina and Cu-alumina interfaces. These results may have immediate ramifications on structural and functional properties of metal-ceramic interfaces.