Whisker Surface Research Articles

Preparation of superhydrophobic polyurethane sponge with photodegradation function and study on its oil-water separation performance

The surface of tetrapod-shaped zinc oxide whiskers (T-ZnOw) was hydrophobized by the sol-gel method, and then loaded onto the surface of polyurethane sponge by dip-curing method to prepare a superhydrophobic polyurethane sponge with photodegradation function. When the mass ratio of superhydrophobic tetrapod-shaped zinc oxide whiskers (ST-ZnOw) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was 0.5:1, the water contact angle of the sponge was 157.5°. After being soaked in acid and alkali corrosion solution, rubbed with sandpaper and heat treated, the sponge can still maintain excellent hydrophobic properties. The adsorption capacity for different oils and organic solvents is 12 to 35 times of its own mass. After repeated extrusion-oil absorption experiments, it can still maintain its good adsorption capacity and high hydrophobicity, showing excellent reusability. The continuous oil-water separation efficiency of the material for different oils and organic solvents is above 95%, and the separation efficiency for the emulsion prepared with span80 content of 0.1wt% is 99.84%. At the same time, the prepared material can degrade the organic dye methylene blue under ultraviolet light, with a degradation rate of 99.35%, showing excellent potential for degrading organic pollutants.

Enhancing sapphire/Kovar alloy brazed joint through combined effect of TiB whisker reinforcement and surface micro-nano structures

The brazed joining between Kovar alloy and sapphire was successfully achieved by using TiB whisker reinforcement and applying the surface micro-nano structure. We systematically studied the composition and mechanical properties of Kovar/Sapphire joint. The typical interfacial structure of the joint brazed at 825 °C for 10 min was determined as Sapphire/ γ-TiO/ Ti3(Cu,Al)3O/ Ag(s,s) + Cu(s,s) + TiB/ Ti2Cu + TiFe2 + TiNi3/ Kovar alloy. The addition of B forms tiny TiB whisker reinforcement phase in situ, which refines the interface structure. The presence of micro-nano structures improves the interface products on the sapphire side: reducing the generation of Ti3(Cu,Al)3O and replacing it with γ-TiO. This makes the phase transition on the sapphire side smoother and reduces thermal expansion coefficient mismatch, thereby enhancing joint strength. Under suitable brazing parameters, the maximum shear strength of the joint is 137 MPa. This study provides new insights for optimizing and improving connections between sapphire ceramics and metals, with potential applications in more ceramic/metal joining.

Heterogeneous nucleation of calcium sulfate whisker in polyamide 6 and its efficient reinforcement on tribology performance

AbstractFor traditional materials, a polymer composite with high performance and large‐scale production is still the goal pursued by researchers. In our work, polyamide 6/calcium sulfate whiskers (PA6/SCW) composites were fabricated via melt‐compouding method. The calcium sulfate whisker based on gypsum mineral was used as reinforcement. After grafting silane coupling agent on the whisker surface, the whiskers showed a significant reinforcing effect in polyamide. The mechanics and tribology performance of the samples had been significantly inhanced. Based on the nucleation mechanism of lattice matching, calcium sulfate whiskers have obvious heterogeneous nucleation effect in PA6 matrix, while the crystallization period was slightly prolonged. This was caused by the network structure formed by the whiskers in the matrix, which impeded the free movement of polymer chain segments. In combination with the orientation degree of the molecular chains measured by the interdigital electrode, the reinforcing effect of the oriented PA6 specimens was derived from the orientation arrangement of the whiskers and the efficient load transfer.Highlights Mechanical and tribological properties of composite were significantly improved. The composite could achieved large‐scale production due to simple preparation. The whiskers had obvious heterogeneous nucleation effect in matrix. The reinforcing effect was derived from efficient load transfer from whiskers.

Spontaneous growth of Sn whisker on the hot-dipping Al[sbnd]Sn alloy coating on Fe-Cr-B cast steel

Although the MAX phase solid solutions and spontaneous growth of Sn whiskers had been reported widely, the study on the spontaneous growth of whisker at room temperature on the MAB phase was very rare. In our previous work, the periodic layered structure consisted of alternatively arranged Cr-Al-B MAB phase and FeAl3 was formed during the hot-dip aluminizing of Fe-Cr-B cast steel. Herein, the Cr-(Al, Sn)-B MAB phase solid solution was prepared by HDA of Fe-Cr-B cast steel in a AlSn alloy melt and subsequently thermal diffusion treatment. Sn atoms in the Al melt could partially occupy the positions of Al atoms in the Cr-Al-B MAB phase by A-site replacement approach, which resulted in the formation of the Cr-(Al, Sn)-B MAB phase solid solution. Subsequently, spontaneous growth of β-Sn whisker occurred on the Cr-(Al, Sn)-B MAB phase solid solution at room temperature. The original Sn source was the pure Sn phase among the grains of Cr-(Al, Sn)-B MAB phase solid solution. The mass transport pathway for maintaining the spontaneous growth of Sn whiskers was: pure Sn among the grains of Cr-Al-B MAB phase→ Cr-(Al, Sn)-B MAB phase→ SnO2 → Sn whisker. The spontaneous growth of Sn whisker in the air resulted in the deep grooves covered on the surface of whisker, while, growth in the vacuum resulted in the prism structure at the bottom of whisker. The spontaneous growth of Sn whisker could grow from both the bottom and the tip. The findings will expand the family of MAB phase and help well understand the growth mechanism of Sn whisker.

In-situ synthesis of BN/Al18B4O33 heterogeneous core-shell nanowires with different BN shell thicknesses and the microstructure evolution mechanism

A simple method was developed for the controllable synthesis of novel BN-coated aluminum borate (Al18B4O33) heterogeneous core-shell nanowires using Al4B2O9 nanowhiskers as rigid templates. This method allows the fabrication of Al18B4O33 nanowires with BN coatings of different thicknesses. The phases, microstructures, and chemical compositions of the samples were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and other characterization techniques. The heterogeneous core-shell nanowires of BN/Al18B4O33 had diameters and tube lengths of 35–60 nm and 400–600 nm, respectively, and the thickness of the BN cladding shell was between 2 and 7 nm. The concentration of B* volatilized on the whisker surface could be controlled by varying the ammonia flow rate, which in turn regulated the thickness of the BN cladding layer. The thickness of the BN cladding changed more significantly when the ammonia flow rate was varied at the Al4B2O9 nanowhisker's decomposition temperature. The experimental results show that the BN on the BN/Al18B4O33 heterogeneous core-shell structured nanowires conforms to the vapor–solid (VS) growth mechanism.

Titanium Dioxide and Calcium Sulfate Whiskers Are Used for the Preparation of High Performance Polypropylene and Reduce White Pollution.

The anti-aging agent TiO2-polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and the mechanical strengthening agent CSW-PAN were prepared by radical polymerization using rutile nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) and anhydrous calcium sulfate whisker (CSW) as raw materials. The structures of TiO2-PAN and CSW-PAN were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Simultaneously, the mechanical properties, aging properties, and thermal stability of TiO2-PAN/CSW-PAN/polypropylene (PP) composites were studied, and the results showed that the surfaces of nano-titanium dioxide and calcium sulfate whiskers were successfully grafted with acrylonitrile. Owing to the introduction of new elements, such as acrylonitrile, nano-titanium dioxide and calcium sulfate whiskers have anti-aging properties. In comparison of the impact strength and tensile strength of TiO2-PAN/PP and TiO2-PAN/CSW-PAN/PP before aging, it can be proven that adding CSW-PAN can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of TiO2-PAN/CSW-PAN/PP. After 1000 h of aging, the tensile strength of the ternary composite TiO2-PAN/CSW-PAN/PP was 19.88 MPa when the addition amount of TiO2-PAN and CSW-PAN was 3%. Moreover, the impact strength of the ternary composite material TiO2-PAN/CSW-PAN/PP after 1000 h of aging is even better than that of non-aging pure PP materials, proving that the service life of improved PP products is extended, unnecessary waste and environmental pollution can be relieved, and the needs of specific engineering fields can be met.

Magnetotransport properties of BiSe whiskers

Doped Bi2Se3 superconductors, such as CuxBi2Se3, SrxBi2Se3, NbxBi2Se3 are shown to be nematic superconductors in addition to the observed topological superconductivity. Recently it was found superconductivity in PdxBi2Se3 whiskers. The superconductivity has a residual character and probably exists on the whisker surface. The present paper deals with checking a possible nematicity existing in PdxBi2Se3 whiskers. The suppression of superconductivity was measured in the magnetic fields with induction up to 1.5 T. It was found the dependency of upper critical fields on the angle of magnetic field application. The dependency is explained in the framework of Ginzburg–Landau model and described by rather small anisotropy parameter 1.2. Besides blurring of temperature Curie near 5.3 K was observed of about 0.5 K that additionally confirmed the nematicity in PdxBi2Se3 whiskers. The rather high Curie temperature as well as nematicity existing is probably connected with strong spin–orbit interaction (SOI) of the charge carriers in the whiskers which stabilizing the superconductive state. When the temperature exceeds T c weak antilocalization of charge carriers is observed in the whisker magnetoresistance.

High-flux whisker layer ceramic membrane prepared by gel spin-coating method for low-pressure oil/water emulsion filtration

Insufficient permeability and membrane fouling significantly influence the efficiency of ceramic microfiltration (MF) membranes in oil/water emulsion treatment. In this study, a high-flux whisker layer ceramic MF membrane with super-hydrophilicity was successfully fabricated through gel-spin coating method and a low-temperature oxidation method, which was used to separate oil/water emulsion. The effects of the whisker layer and surface wettability were systematically investigated, and the mechanism of in-situ gelling and pore size distribution was proposed. The super-hydrophilic ceramic MF membrane with an average pore size of 250 nm exhibited a high gas flux of 934 m3/(m2·h·bar) and excellent pure water flux of 9754 L/(m2 h bar). Even after a long-term circulating filtration process, the super-hydrophilic ceramic MF membrane still maintained a high water flux of over 50 L/(m2·h) at a transmembrane pressure of 5 KPa during the treatment of oil-in-water emulsion with a concentration of 1000 mg/L. Overall, the developed ceramic MF membrane demonstrated high permeability and excellent anti-fouling performance, making it a promising candidate for oil/water emulsion wastewater treatment.

Improved properties of Al matrix composites reinforced with Ni-coated β-Si3N4 whiskers

ABSTRACT In order to enhance the interfacial bonding between aluminum and β-Si3N4 whiskers in Al matrix composites (AMCs), Ni coating was deposited on the surface of β-Si3N4 whiskers using an electroless plating method. The interfacial test results showed that Ni coating was successfully deposited on the surface of β-Si3N4 whiskers and the whiskers were well bonded with Al matrix without pores. In addition, the whiskers were homogeneously dispersed in the Al matrix. The effect of Ni-coated β-Si3N4 whiskers on the mechanical properties of composites was investigated in detail. Densification and the mechanical performance of AMCs reinforced by Ni coated β-Si3N4 whiskers (NSAMCs) were improved comparing to that of AMCs reinforced by uncoated β-Si3N4 whiskers (USAMCs). The maximum value of tensile strength and bending strength reached up to 290 MPa and 487 MPa, when the Ni content was 0.9 vol.% and the β-Si3N4 whiskers content was 20 wt.%, respectively. However, excessive Ni content weakened the strengthening effect. Medium Ni coating on β-Si3N4 whiskers significantly optimized the interface and improved the performance of the composites.

In Situ Grown 1D/2D Structure of Dy3Si2C2 on SiCw for Enhanced Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

To improve electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption performance, a novel nano-laminated Dy3Si2C2 coating was successfully in situ coated on the surface of SiC whisker (SiCw/Dy3Si2C2) using a molten salt approach. A labyrinthine three-dimensional (3D) net was constructed by the one-dimensional (1D) SiCw coated with the two-dimensional (2D) Dy3Si2C2 layer with a thickness of ~100 nm, which significantly improved the EMW absorption properties of SiCw. Compared to pure SiCw with the minimum reflection loss (RLmin) value of -10.64 dB and the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 1.04 GHz for the sample with a thickness of 4.5 mm, SiCw/Dy3Si2C2 showed a significantly better EMW absorption performance with RLmin of -32.09 dB and wider EAB of 3.76 GHz for thinner samples with a thickness of 1.76 mm. The enhancement of the EMW absorption performance could be ascribed to the improvement of impedance matching, enhanced conductance loss, interfacial polarization as well as multiple scattering. The SiCw/Dy3Si2C2 can be a candidate for EMW absorber applications due to its excellent EMW absorption performance and wide EAB for relatively thin samples, light weight, as well as potential oxidation and corrosion resistance at high temperatures.

Planting of nanoparticles controlled by high energy laser irradiation on the surface of SiC whisker

The surface modification of silicon carbide whiskers to raise the specific surface area and mechanical blocking function, which can effectively improve the reinforcing and toughening effect of the whiskers on engineering structural materials. In this study, it is proposed to directly metallurgical plant nanoparticles on the surface of silicon carbide whiskers by high-energy laser irradiation. The metallurgical reaction of the whisker-nanoparticle interface is realized by the transient gaussian laser energy field action and the formation of a binding layer of about 10 nm thickness. However, the whisker surface still maintains the regular trench morphology after the whisker is etched, and the structure greatly improving the generation efficiency of the whisker-nanoparticle metallurgical interface bonding layer. The material phase before and after laser irradiation maintains a consistent β-SiC crystal. TEM results are displayed that the whiskers and nanoparticles in the metallurgical binding region indicate that the (111) plane arranged parallel along the [111] orientation. TEM- EDS mapping shows that the whiskers formed after irradiation are almost free of nitrogen and oxide impurities. So that the final product can maintain the original phase and physical essence of the material. These results proved that laser irradiation is a highly stable processing technique for texturing modification of whisker surfaces.

Silver nanoparticle-decorated AlN whiskers hybrids for enhancing the thermal conductivity of nanofibrillated cellulose composite films.

By depositing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the surface of aluminum nitride whiskers (AlNw), an AlNw-AgNPs heterogeneous structural filler was rationally designed from the perspective of interface engineering, which was further combined with nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) to prepare anisotropic composite films by a facile vacuum-assited filtration method. Due to the synergistic effect of cross-linking AlNw and "thermal conducting micro-bridges" of AgNPs, the composite films exhibited an extraordinary in-plane thermal conductivity of 31.329 W m-1 K-1, showing a promising application as thermal management materials.

Template-free growth of copper-doped hydroxyapatite nanowhiskers and their use as uric acid electrochemical sensor

We synthesize copper-doped hydroxyapatite (Cu HAp) bioceramic nanowhiskers (aspect ratio ˃ 85) by a surfactant-free hydrothermal route. The detailed structural and compositional characterizations confirm the existence of catalytic multivalent Cu 1+ /Cu 2+ dopant ions and secondary β TCP phase. The dopant-induced oxygen vacancies promote active sites on the mesoporous surface (specific area ~ 60.4 m 2 /g) for electrochemical applications. The electrochemical studies of the fabricated Cu HAp FTO revealed good response, sensitivity and stability towards uric acid (lowest stable detection limit ~0.5 μM) in the lower and higher concentration regimes respectively. Thus, our fabricated Cu HAp shows surface-dependent electrochemical activities and non-enzymatic selective response to uric acid. Novel nanowhisker shaped mesoporous copper-doped hydroxyapatite has been employed for catalytic activity and sensing. Three electrode-based non-enzymatic electrochemical sensing of uric acid has been studied by voltammetry and amperometry. Multivalent dopant-induced oxygen vacancies and presence of secondary phase regulates the active sites on the whisker surface. • Copper-doped hydroxyapatite synthesis by surfactant-free hydrothermal route. • Novel mesoporous nanowhisker-shaped morphology of high specific surface area. • Multivalent doping induced oxygen vacancies promote active sites on surface. • Stable eco-friendly non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor of uric acid. • Good sensitivity, selectivity, fast response and reproducibility is achieved.

Mechanical properties, thermal stability, and thermal degradation kinetics of silicone rubber/ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer/magnesium sulfate whisker composites compatibilized by ethylene‐acrylic acid copolymer

AbstractSilicone rubber/ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer/magnesium sulfate whisker composites containing ethylene‐acrylic acid copolymer (MS/SR/EVM/EAA) as a compatibilizer were successfully prepared. Moreover, the magnesium sulfate whisker surface was modified with 3 wt% of silane coupling agent (KH570), resulting in composites including (unmodified magnesium sulfate whisker) uMS/SR/EVM, (modified magnesium sulfate whisker) mMS/SR/EVM, and mMS/SR/EVM/EAA were compared. The values of thermal decomposition activation energy (Ea) calculated by the two different methods (Kissinger and Friedman methods) show that the composites filled with 5 and 20 phr whiskers have lower values of activation energy (Ea) than the SR/EVM blend. The tensile strength of composites with a 5 phr modified whisker is 14.5 MPa, which is higher than that of the SR/EVM blend and uMS5/SR/EVM composite. The tear strength of the composite with 20 phr mMS is 51.6 kN m−1, much higher than that of the composite with 20 phr uMS and SR/EVM blend. The mechanical properties were also investigated after thermal aging of the composites at 85°C for 48 h. The thermal conductivity of the composites with high filler loading was studied.

Study of SiO2 coating and carboxylic surface-modification on Mg-based inorganic fiber by one-step reflux reaction

Magnesium hydroxide sulfate hydrate (5 Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·3H2O abbreviated 513MHSH) whiskers using for fiber reinforcements and fillers are synthesized via a reflux reaction by using MgO and H2SO4 as reactants. In general, the 513MHSH whiskers have hydrophilic surface and heat resistant property with crystal water molecules. In this work, surface modification and SiO2 coating technique were employed for various application by coating with organic and silica layer on 513MHSH whisker surface. Also, SiO2 coating system is important for preventing aggregation and enhancing thermal stability [J Kor Ceram Soc 55:618, 2018; J Nanosci Nanotechnol 10:380, 2010]. Controlling pH value acts as important factor for establish one-step process that synthesis and surface modification/SiO2 coating process simultaneously to improve the efficiency in terms of the time and process. The morphology and phase of synthesized 513MHSH whiskers are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Surface modified whiskers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and the thermal stability of SiO2 coated whiskers were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).

Changes in photocatalytic activity and optical properties of ZnO whiskers induced by UV irradiation

Controlling the surface properties of ZnO micro-nanostructured materials by surface engineering is a current research hotspot. The tetrapod-like ZnO whisker is a multifunctional material, which has applications in many fields. In this research, ZnO whiskers were first prepared by reactive evaporation, and then the surface properties of the ZnO whiskers were changed by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The experimental results show that many oxygen vacancies (VO) are generated on the ZnO whiskers surface under UV irradiation. The presence of surface VO is confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy. It is found that an appropriate amount of surface VO can enhance the photocatalytic activity of ZnO whiskers. This is chiefly ascribed to two factors: (1) a moderate amount of surface VO is beneficial to the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes; (2) the existence of VO improves the light absorption in the visible light region.

Surface Modification of Magnesium Oxysulfate Whisker Based on SiO2@silane Coupling Agent and SiO2@polydopamine Double-Layer Structure for Reinforcing HDPE.

In this study, we fabricated high-performance polyethylene composites by constructing SiO2@silane coupling agent (γ-methylacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane) and SiO2@polydopamine (PDA) double-layer structures on a magnesium oxysulfate whisker surface. In addition to realizing strong mechanical properties, the flame-retardant properties of the composites were effectively improved. Further increase in the initial crystallization temperature of the modified composites indicated that the dispersion of whisker in the matrix was improved. The drag effect of the modified whisker on the HDPE molecular chain was characterized by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and the morphology of the impact-fractured surface was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM); both confirmed the improved compatibility between the whisker and the matrix. The tensile strength of HDPE/MOSw@SiO2@KH570 and HDPE/MOSw@SiO2@PDA composites were 22.6% and 41.5% higher than that of the HDPE/MOSw composites, respectively. The impact strengths of the HDPE/MOSw@SiO2@KH570 and HDPE/MOSw@SiO2@PDA composites were 129% and 102% higher than that of the HDPE/MOSw composites, respectively. A stable carbon-silicate layer constructed by a SiO2@KH570 and SiO2@PDA double-layer structure delayed the combustion process. As a result, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) of HDPE/MOSw@SiO2@KH570 and HDPE/MOSw@SiO2@PDA composites increased from 22.5 to 22.9 and 23.5, respectively.

Simulations of flow over a bio-inspired undulated cylinder with dynamically morphing topography

Inspired by the geometric properties of seal whiskers, the addition of spanwise undulations on a cylinder have been shown to lower the mean and oscillatory forces and modify the frequency of flow-induced vibration when compared to smooth cylinders. Previously, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been used to characterize the hydrodynamic response with respect to specific geometric features. However simulations are time intensive due to complex three-dimensional meshing and computation time, limiting the number of geometric perturbations explored. A method is proposed in which the specific geometric features of this complex topography can be modified during a simulation thereby decreasing the time per geometric modification and removing the need for manual meshing of the complex structure. The surface of the seal whisker inspired geometry is parameterized into seven defining parameters, each of which is directly controlled in order to morph the surface into any realization within the defined parameter space. Once validated, the algorithm is used to explore the undulation amplitudes in the chord and thickness directions, by varying each independently from 0 to 0.3 thicknesses in increments of 0.05 at a Reynolds number of 500. The force and frequency response are examined for this matrix of geometric parameters, yielding detailed force trends not previously investigated. The impact of the bio-inspired morphing algorithm will allow for further optimization and development of force-mitigating underwater devices and other engineering applications in need of vibration suppression, frequency tuning, or force reduction.

Preparation and Properties of Magnesium Cement-Based Photocatalytic Materials

Photocatalytic oxidation is a technology developed in recent years for the degradation of indoor air pollutants. In this study, magnesium cement-based photocatalytic material (MPM) was prepared by loading TiO2 photocatalysts onto a SiO2-modified basic magnesium chloride whisker (BMCW) surface, and was subsequently sprayed evenly on the surface of putty powder to form a photocatalytic functional wall coating (PFWC) material. Then, by introducing Ag, visible light photocatalytic functional wall coating (VPFWC) materials were also prepared. The results show that TiO2 and SiO2 form Ti–O–Si bonds on the BMCW surface, and the PFWC presents a promising degradation effect, with a photocatalytic removal rate of 46% for gaseous toluene, under ultraviolet light for 3 h, and an MPM coating concentration of 439 g/m2. This is related to the surface structure of the functional coating, which is formed using putty powder and MPM. The visible light photocatalytic efficiency of the VPFWC increased as the spraying amount of the AgNO3 solution increased, up to 16.62 g/m2, and then decreased with further increasing. The gaseous toluene was degraded by 28% and 73% in 3 h, by the VPFWC, under visible light and ultraviolet light irradiation, respectively. In addition, the photocatalytic performance of the PFWC/VPFWC also showed excellent durability after being reused five times.

Revealing the Pb Whisker Growth Mechanism from Al-Alloy Surface and Morphological Dependency on Material Stress and Growth Environment.

Spontaneous metallic Pb whisker formation from Pb and Bi containing Al-alloy’s surfaces is a newly discovered phenomenon. The whiskers display unique formations, growth and morphology, which give the opportunity to be applied for specialized sensor and electronics applications. Within this work, the impact of environmental conditions (gas composition and moisture) is investigated and correlated with the modification of whisker evolution and growth dynamics. Furthermore, the residual stress state of the aluminum matrix using deep cryogenic treatment is modified and used to further increase whisker nucleation and growth by up to three- and seven-fold, respectively, supported by quantitative results. The results of this paper indicate the possibility to manipulate the whisker not only in terms of their kinetics but also their morphology (optimal conditions are 20% O2 and 35% humidity). Such features allow the tailoring of the whisker structure and surface to volume ratio, which can be optimized for different applications. Finally, this research provides new insight into the growth dynamics of the whiskers through in situ and ex situ measurements, providing further evidence of the complex nucleation and growth mechanisms that dictate the spontaneous growth of Pb whiskers from Al-alloy 6026 surfaces with growth velocities up to 1.15 µm/s.