Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
Enhancements in the elastic moduli by factors of two or more in compositionally modulated metallic thin films have been observed for a certain range of composition modulation wavelengths. The experimental and theoretical understanding of this phenomenon, known as the supermodulus effect, is reviewed. Also, the mechanical properties of other artificially layered and composite materials are discussed and compared with the behavior of metallic superlattice thin films.