New approach to evaluation of the stress-strain properties of nanolayers of solid materials

The review focuses on results obtained in the development of a new approach to determination of the stress-strain properties (tensile strength, yield point, plastic deformation under uniaxial stretching) of nanolayers of solid materials. The approach is based on analysis of parameters of the microrelief generated by strains in polymer films with hard thin coatings. A significant increase in the tensile strength and ductility of noble metal coatings under uniaxial stretching at the metal layer thickness less than 30 nm is demonstrated for the first time. This substantiates the assumption of a specific state of nanolayers of solid materials. The developed method also enables evaluation of the effect of characteristic defects in solids on their stress-strain behavior. It was found that the stress-strain properties of nanocoatings depend on the physical state of the polymer substrate. A possible mechanism of the revealed phenomena is suggested.