抄録
In this study, time-dependent mechanical properties of the sintered nano-sized Ag particles were investigated. Stress relaxation
was observed from the ambient temperature (0.24Tｍ), lower than 0.4Tｍ (493K), at which, as a rule of thumb, creep occurs in metal
materials. The stress exponent and the activation energy of the compact portion of Ag are similar to those of dislocation creep. The
results in this study, however, do not adapt to the high temperature creep theory from the viewpoint of diffusion. In addition, the
elastic modulus of the compact portion of Ag is one fourth of the elastic modulus of bulk Ag. The crystallinity in the vicinity of grain
boundaries is considered to be low in quality compared to bulk Ag. Thus, it can also be considered that the grain boundary of such
poor quality is closely related to the low modulus of elasticity and the occurrence of low temperature creep.
