Mechanical Properties of Single Crystal Transition-Metal Nitride Strained-Layer Superlattices Exhibiting Extremely High Hardnesses

本研究以过渡金属氮化物型超晶格的机械强度和弹性模量的提高机制为中心。生长、化学、结构和机械性能作为工艺变量的函数进行测量，这些变量包括成分调制、层完整性、波长和晶体取向。最初的研究仅限于氮化钛/钒-氮化Nb体系。晶格失配的变化是通过控制层组成来实现的。

This research program centers on the mechanisms of enhanced mechanical strength and modulus in superlattices of the transition metal nitride type. Growth, chemistry, structure, and mechanical properties are measured as functions of the processing variables, which include composition modulation, layer perfection, wavelength, and crystallographic orientation. Initial research is limited to the titanium nitride/vanadium- niobium nitride system. Variations in lattice mismatch are accomplished through control of layer compositions.