Thermal expansion of vacuum deposited gold films being free from substrate was measured in a specially designed furnace by using a slide cathetometer from room temperature to 300°C. It was found that in lower temperature region (below 250°C) there was no appreciable difference between the thermal expansion of gold films and that of bulk gold. However, in higher temperature region (above 250°C), especially in case of relatively thinner films, the aspect of the thermal expansion drastically differed from that of bulk, that is, the contraction of film length was observed. The origin of the contraction was discussed from the viewpoint of the change of film structure due to heating.
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