A Method for Mechanical Characterization of Cold Spray Sputter Targets in PV Manufacturing

In this work the Brazilian disc test technique is applied to mechanical characterization of cold-sprayed Cu-In-Ga deposits. The main advantage of the test is that the material can be tested in its end product form while naturally attending to the distribution of micro-structural phases and flaws by choosing an appropriate specimen size. The stress state of the test specimen can be obtained in analytical closed form and testing can be readily extended to obtain the stress-strain curve. While limited to low ductility materials the Brazilian disc test appears ideal for testing as-sprayed cold spray deposits due to their typically brittle nature.