Effect of interfacial adhesion on the mechanical properties of organic/inorganic hybrid nanolaminates

Two different kinds of organic polyelectrolyte (PE)/inorganic silicate nanolaminates carrying dissimilar interfacial adhesion between the organic and the inorganic layers were prepared using the layer-by-layer self-assembly. To investigate the mechanical behavior of the prepared hybrid films, apparent modulus (E′), hardness (H), and crack length were measured by depth-sensing nanoindentation as well as a microVickers experiment. The fracture toughness of the hybrid films was then calculated based on the measured mechanical values. In the case of forming strong interfacial adhesion between the organic and the inorganic layers (A series), the fracture toughness and the crack resistance of hybrid multilayer films were significantly improved as a result of the redistribution of stress concentration and the dissipation of fracture energy by the plasticity of organic PE layers. On the other hand, samples with relatively low interfacial adhesion between the organic and the inorganic layers (T series) had little effect on the improvement of fracture toughness of the hybrid films.