Deformation of thin films on solid substrates

Abstract

Thin films of various face-centred cubic metals in the thickness range of 300 to 700 Å have been oriented on single crystals of silver and palladium. These specimens have then been deformed and the way in which the film accommodates the imposed strain has been determined by examination of the film in the electron microscope after stripping from the substrate. It is considered that the mode of deformation is determined by the ease with which dislocations can be injected into and through the film from the underlying substrate and factors which influence this transfer have been examined.