Micromechanical response for the amorphous/amorphous nanolaminates

The uniaxial microcompression and nanoindentation responses of amorphous-ZrCuTi/amorphous-PdCuSi nanolaminates were investigated. It was found that the apparent deformation mechanism transforms from highly inhomogeneous mode in the monolithic amorphous alloys to relatively more homogeneous mode in the micropillars of nanolaminates. Similar phenomena were observed under nanoidentation. The presence of high-density sharp amorphous/amorphous interfaces in the nanolaminates, which could hinder the propagation of shear bands, is a possible reason for the observed transition in the deformation mode.