Abstract
The propagation of tensile fatigue fracture of vacuum-evaporated gold films was observed in the scanning electron microscope by mounting the film on rubber substrate. Gold films from 580 to 810Å in thickness used in this study were heated at different temperatures ranging from 300 to 700°C. The fatigue tests were conducted at room temperature under tension-tension cycling using a strain range (0.3-0.6%), and a test frequency of one cycle per 2 seconds. The strain cycling was continued until distinct holes were observed in the film. Fatigue fracture was occurred by growth and coalescence of microholes within the plastic bands. Propagation of cracks in a linear array would be expected to induce total fracture only if resulting hole size approached the critical fracture width. The total cycles up to fracture (fatigue life) was usually of the order of 50 to 400 cycles.
