Strength and plasticity of amorphous silicon oxycarbide

Authors

Kaisheng Ming, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Chao Gu, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Qing Su, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Yongqiang Wang, Los Alamos National LaboratoryFollow
Arezoo Zare, Oklahoma State UniversityFollow
Don A. Lucca, Oklahoma State UniversityFollow
Michael Nastasi, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Jian Wang, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

1-25-2019

Citation

Published in Journal of Nuclear Materials 516 (2019), pp 289–296.

doi 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2019.01.035

Comments

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. Used by permission.

Abstract

Amorphous SiOC films were synthesized by magnetron sputtering at room temperature with/without radio frequency (RF) bias and further improved in terms of mechanical properties by ion irradiation. As-deposited SiOC films without RF bias exhibit catastrophic failure at a low stress and strain, which is ascribed to microstructural heterogeneities associated with the formation of voids during deposition, as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy. Ion irradiation unifies microstructure accompanied with eliminating the voids, resulting in a simultaneously increase in strength and plasticity (ultimate strength of 5–7 GPa and the strain to shear instability of over 20%). Homogeneous microstructures are demonstrated to ensure high strength and plasticity of amorphous SiOC, as observed in SiOC that are deposited with RF-bias. Thus, microstructural homogeneous amorphous SiOC exhibits intrinsically high strength and plasticity, making them promising as structural engineering materials.

Includes supplementary material.