Enhanced mechanical properties of multilayered micropillars of amorphous ZrCuTi and nanocrystalline Ta layers

Abstract This paper presents the room-temperature mechanical response of as-sputtered amorphous ZrCuTi/crystalline Ta pillars evaluated by micro-compression test. Compared with monolithic ZrCuTi amorphous micro-pillar, the composited pillars exhibits considerably enhanced yield stress as well as improved deforming ability. Instead of the prediction based on iso-stress rule of mixture, the stress of such multilayered micropillars can be well predicted by another model. The positive mechanical properties are attributed to the positive effects from the high-stiffness Ta layers, which do not involve in formation of shear bands but can retard shear bands propagation via forming “plastic zone” in the constrained amorphous ZrCuTi layers.