Tuning phase stability in nanocomposite multilayers

As thin-film layers in a multilayered stack are reduced in thickness, changes in phase stability can result within the individual layers. These changes in phase are expected to have a significant influence upon the functional properties of the nanostructured composite. The ability to engineer, or tune, phase stability at this nanometer length scale is of significant importance in order to maximize the functional properties of these materials. We report the prediction and experimental conformation of tuning the hcp to bcc phase stability in Ti for Ti/Nb multilayered nanocomposites. The prediction was based upon selective alloying of Ti with a bcc beta stabilizing element using a new form of a thermodynamic phase diagram for predicting phase stability in thin-film multilayers. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.