TEMPERING EFFECTS IN ION-PLATED TIN FILMS - TEXTURE, RESIDUAL-STRESS, ADHESION AND COLOR

The contraction of the expanded crystal lattice, inherent in films made by plasma-enhanced vapor deposition, occurs on tempering with an activation energy of about 2. 09 ev and is accompanied in the present films by an increase in residual stress and the development of a texture in the plane of the film. The intrinsic stress falls so the net stress increase is attributed to a concomitant substrate contraction. At the same time the color of the films becomes more deeply yellow in accordance with recent discussion of the simple ionic model. The scratch test adhesion is not significantly affected by the tempering and the increase in the residual stress. Indeed, adhesion increases slightly with tempering probably owing to interdiffusion with the substrate.