Tensile mechanical properties of sintered porous silver films and their dependence on porosity

Abstract

This paper investigates the porosity-dependent tensile mechanical properties of porous silver films that are 8–10 μm thick. The silver films are fabricated with a pressure press; the use of different pressures changes the porosity (p) in the range of 5% to 25%. p is determined using scanning electron microscopy cross-sectional images of the films. Stress–strain (S–S) curves are obtained by tensile tests performed on the porous and bulk silver films. The conventional ductile plateau disappears from the porous films. Augmented ultimate tensile strength and a smaller breaking strain occur when p is in the range 6%–14%.