The growth of inorganic salt whiskers from solution

Abstract

Whiskers of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, copper sulphate and sodium nitrate, grown from aqueous solution, have been studied by optical and electron microscopy. The results lead to the conclusion that growth is in two stages: an initial linear growth and subsequent whisker thickening by two-dimensional nucleation. This picture of whisker growth is in accordance with a theory which has been proposed by Sears. Certain direct electron microscope results suggest that the mechanism of whisker thickening is responsible for the known decrease in strength with increasing diameter.