Gold-Aluminium Intermetallic Compound Formation

Abstract

During investigations of failure mechanisms and failure avoidance we have studied the kinetics and the mechanisms responsible for the growth of the Au-Al compounds. Au₄Al, Au₅Al₂, Au₂Al, AuAl, AuAl₂ have been observed and the growth kinetics of the Au₂Al, AuAl, AuAl₂ follow a (time)1/2 dependence. The activation energy for the growth of Au₂Al is 1 eV and 1.2 eV was found for AuAl and AuAl₂. The kind of compound formed depends on the samples preparation and the results indicate that the kinetics of the mixing is the main mechanism responsible for the sequence of formation of the various compounds.