Cu/Ni/Nb tri-layer and CuNi/Nb alloy multilayer films were annealed to examine the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of three component laminated metallic nanostructures. Scanning transmission electron microscopy showed Ni_xNb_y compounds forming on either side of the Nb layer in both tri-layer and alloy films. Post annealing nanoindentation showed all annealing conditions resulted in increased hardness, indicative of the Ni_xNb_y intermetallic phase increasing the hardness of the films. The hardness of both films achieves a maximum hardness after annealing for 3 h at 300 °C. The hardness increase as the annealing temperature increases corresponds to a thicker Ni_xNb_y layer at the incoherent boundary. This strengthening technique could be implemented in a variety of different multilayer systems to achieve age-hardenable multilayer metallic nanostructures.

对Cu / Ni / Nb三层和CuNi / Nb合金多层膜进行退火，以检查三组分层压金属纳米结构的微观结构演变和力学性能。扫描透射电子显微镜显示在三层膜和合金膜中，在Nb层的任一侧形成Ni _x Nb _y化合物。退火后的纳米压痕表明，所有退火条件均导致硬度增加，表明Ni _x Nb _y金属间相增加了膜的硬度。在300°C下退火3小时后，两种膜的硬度均达到最大硬度。硬度随着退火温度的升高而增加，对应于较厚的Ni _x Nb _y层在不连贯的边界处。可以在各种不同的多层系统中实施这种强化技术，以实现可时效硬化的多层金属纳米结构。