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Ag and Cu whisker formation in Ag–Cu–Te alloys

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Abstract

Long Ag and Cu whiskers are found in Ag–Cu–Te alloys annealed at 400 and 600 °C. Depending upon the nominal compositions of the alloys, there are three kinds of whiskers, Ag, Cu, and Ag + Cu whiskers. For the first time, two different kinds of whiskers grown simultaneously from the same substrate are observed. These whiskers are all polycrystalline, and the grain sizes of the Ag are larger than those of Cu. As indicated by their continuous connection with the substrate, many shear bands in the whiskers, and low-angle grain boundaries piling up near the grain boundaries, it is confirmed that the whiskers grow not from the gas phase, but within the solid state, pushed outward by stress. The Ag–Cu–Te liquidus projection is calculated by the Calphad method. It is found that the compositional regimes of whisker growth overlap with the regions of the liquid miscibility gaps. When alloys solidify through a liquid miscibility gap, two regions of different compositions would form. The stress developed following solidification, originating from these two regions of different compositions, is the main driving force behind whisker formation. The rapid growth rates of the whiskers are a result of the rapid liquid-like diffusion behaviors of the Ag and Cu atoms in the Ag–Cu–Te alloys of the cage-like structures.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support of MA-tek (2021-T-012) and National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan (MOST 111-2221-E-007-014-MY3) and (NSTC 111-2634-F-007-008).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsin-chu, Taiwan, ROC

    Sinn-wen Chen, Pin-shuo Huang, Yung-Chun Tsai & Yohanes Hutabalian

  2. High Entropy Materials Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsin-chu, Taiwan, ROC

    Sinn-wen Chen

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan

    Jhe-Yu Lin

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  1. Sinn-wen Chen
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Contributions

Sinn-wen Chen helped in conceptualization. Sinn-wen Chen, Pin-Shuo Huang, and Jhe-Yu Lin helped in methodology. Pin-shuo Huang, Yung-Chun Tsai, Yohanes Hutabalian, and Jhe-Yu Lin helped in validation. Sinn-wen Chen, Pin-Shuo Huang, Pin-Shuo Huang, and Yohanes Hutabalian helped in formal analysis. Pin-Shuo Huang and Yohanes Hutabalian worked in investigation. Pin-Shuo Huang, Yung-Chun Tsai, and Yohanes Hutabalian helped in data curation. Sinn-wen Chen and Pin-Shuo Huang contributed to writing. Pin-Shuo Huang and Yung-Chun Tsai helped in visualization. Sinn-wen Chen worked in supervision. Sinn-wen Chen worked in project administration. Sinn-wen Chen helped in funding acquisition.

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Correspondence to Sinn-wen Chen.

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Chen, Sw., Huang, Ps., Tsai, YC. et al. Ag and Cu whisker formation in Ag–Cu–Te alloys. J Mater Sci 59, 9091–9106 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-024-09714-1

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