Interface affected zone for optimal strength and ductility in heterogeneous laminate

Interfaces have been reported to significantly strengthen and toughen metallic materials. However, there has been a long-standing question on whether interface-affected-zone (IAZ) exists, and how it might behave. Here we report in situ high-resolution strain mapping near interfaces in a copper–bronze heterogeneous laminate, which revealed the existence of IAZs. Defined as the zone with strain gradient, the IAZ was found to form by the...