Anodic Bonding of Ag-Impregnated Glass and Reaction of Derived Joints to Reverse Voltage

Abstract

When a voltage in the direction opposite to that for anodic bonding is applied to an anodically-bonded joint of glass whose alkali ion content is substituted by silver, silver precipitates of peculiar morphology form in the glass adjacent to the joint interface. In order to acquire knowledge about factors that control the configuration of the precipitates, effects of bonding time of the joints and application temperature of the reverse voltage on morphology of the precipitates were investigated. Shortening of the bonding time and increase of the application temperature of the reverse voltage cause decrease of the size of precipitates, and these effects were explained from formation frequency of current paths in the Ag+ depletion layer with penetration of Ag+ ions into the layer.