PurposeThis　study　aims　to　characterize　the　mechanical　properties　of　sintered　nano-silver　under　various　sintering　processes　by　nano-indentation　tests.Design/methodology/approachThrough　microstructure　observations　and　characterization,　the　influences　of　sintering　process　on　the　microstructure　evolutions　of　sintered　nano-silver　were　presented.　And,　the　indentation　load,　indentation　displacement　curves　of　sintered　silver　under　various　sintering　processes　were　measured　by　using　nano-indentation　test.　Based　on　the　nano-indentation　test,　a　reverse　analysis　of　the　finite　element　calculation　was　used　to　determine　the　yielding　stress　and　hardening　exponent.FindingsThe　porosity　decreases　with　the　increase　of　the　sintering　temperature,　while　the　average　particle　size　of　sintered　nano-silver　increases　with　the　increase　of　sintering　temperature　and　sintering　time.　In　addition,　the　porosity　reduced　from　34.88%,　30.52%,　to　25.04%　if　the　ramp　rate　was　decreased　from　25　degrees　C/min,　15　degrees　C/min,　to　5　degrees　C/min,　respectively.　The　particle　size　appears　more　frequently　within　1　mu　m　and　2　mu　m　under　the　lower　ramp　rate.　With　reverse　analysis,　the　strain　hardening　exponent　gradually　heightened　with　the　increase　of　temperature,　while　the　yielding　stress　value　decreased　significantly　with　the　increase　of　temperature.　When　the　sintering　time　increased,　the　strain　hardening　exponent　increased　slightly.Practical　implicationsThe　mechanical　properties　of　sintered　nano-silver　under　different　sintering　processes　are　clearly　understood.Originality/valueThis　paper　could　provide　a　novel　perspective　on　understanding　the　sintering　process　effects　on　the　mechanical　properties　of　sintered　nano-silver.