title: Nanoscale metal-metal contact physics from molecular dynamics: the strongest contact size.
abstract: Using molecular dynamics we find that the tensile strength of the contacts between two clean platinum surfaces with nanoscale asperities is strongly size dependent with a maximum strength for contact lengths of approximately 5 nm. This is the first time a strongest size is observed in single crystals. The strengthening with decreasing size down to 5 nm results from a decrease in the initial density of mobile dislocations available for plastic deformation and the subsequent weakening originates from a reduction in the constraint to mechanical deformation inside the contact by the bulk.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Engineering and Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
authors.forename: Hojin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strachan