Understanding large plastic deformation of SiC nanowires at room temperature

Tensile behaviors of SiC [111] nanowires with various possible microstructures have been investigated by molecular-dynamics simulations. The results show that the large plastic deformation in these nanowires is induced by the anti-parallel sliding of 3C grains along an ultrathin intergranular amorphous film parallel to the (111̄) plane and inclined at an angle of 19.47 ° with respect to the nanowire axis. The resulting large plastic deformation of SiC nanowires at room temperature is attributed to the stretching, breaking and re-forming of SiC bonds in the intergranular amorphous film, which is also evident from the sawtooth jumps in the stress-strain response. © EPLA, 2011.