mechanics approach, similar values for the fracture energy are calculated; although the failure of the film under the indenter tip suggests a possible embrittlement of the ductile Al film in the presence of contaminants. The evidence of fracture within the carbon layer supports similar trends reported in whisker pull-out tests in which a carbon layer formation has been reported to decrease the fracture resistance [36]. Weak bonding has been reported for a range of interfacial carbon layer thicknesses. Brennan [37, 38] has cited an extensive fiber pull-out occurring in composites with a 10-40 nm layer of carbon present, attributed to debonding within the carbon layers. The effect on shear strength was recently reported by Dehm et al. [39] in which a decrease in the adhesion of copper to sapphire was observed by incorporating up to 110 nm thick carbon layers. Our current investigation shows that the debonding within a carbon layer occurs in much thinner layers than previously reported. The presence of a carbide suggests that