Mechanical stability of nanoporous metals with small ligament sizes

Digital samples of nanoporous gold with small ligament sizes were studied by atomistic simulation using different interatomic potentials that represent varying surface stress values. We predict a surface relaxation driven mechanical instability for these materials. Plastic deformation is induced by the surface stress without external load, related to the combination of the surface stress value anc the surface to volume ratio. (C) 2009 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.