Stability of f.c.c. titanium in titanium/aluminum multilayers

Crystal structures of as-sputtered Ti/Al multilayers are studied with speci al emphasis on the formation of f.c.c.-Ti and the effect of coherency strai ns on phase stability. The results are rationalized on the basis of a recen tly proposed thermodynamic model for phase stability in multilayers. In thi s paper, the thermodynamic model is modified to account for the effect of c oherency strains on the phase stability. A new phase stability diagram is p roposed for Ti/Al multilayers. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd o n behalf of Acta Metallurgica Inc. All rights reserved.