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We investigate the deformation of epitaxial Ti3SiC2(0001)/TiCx(111) (x∼0.67) nanolaminates deposited by magnetron sputtering. Nanoindentation and transmission electron microscopy show that the Ti3SiC2 layers deform via basal plane slip and intrusion into the TiC layers, suppressing kink-band and pile-up deformation behaviors analogous with monolithic Ti3SiC2. This remarkable response to indentation is due to persistent slip in the TiC layers and prevention of gross slip throughout the nanolaminate by the interleaving Ti3SiC2 layers. Hardness and Young’s modulus were measured as ∼15 and ∼240 GPa, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic behavior during loading of ferroelectric bulk materials is commonly explained by domain switching processes. In this study the authors show that dislocation induced deformation also occurs during nanoindentation of BaTiO3. Studies were conducted using a spheroconical shaped indenter together with observations using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and focussed ion beam cross sections for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the contact areas. Force/displacement measurements showed the sudden appearance of “pop-in” events, which AFM/TEM observations revealed were associated with plastic deformation and dislocation arrays at the surface. TEM cross sections of the indents showed paired parallel slip lines with 45° to the original surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic behavior during loading of ferroelectric bulk materials is commonly explained by domain switching processes. In this study the authors show that dislocation induced deformation also occurs during nanoindentation of BaTiO3. Studies were conducted using a spheroconical shaped indenter together with observations using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and focussed ion beam cross sections for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the contact areas. Force/displacement measurements showed the sudden appearance of “pop-in” events, which AFM/TEM observations revealed were associated with plastic deformation and dislocation arrays at the surface. TEM cross sections of the indents showed paired parallel slip lines with 45° to the original surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]