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Tin Whisker (and Other Metal Whisker) Homepage

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Tin Whisker Growing from Pure Tin Plated Relay Terminal Hot Topics

The  motion depicted in the image is for simulation purposes only
Motion depicted in this image is for simulation purposes only

April 2008

"Whisker and Hillock formation on Sn, Sn–Cu and Sn–Pb electrodeposits", W.J. Boettinger, et al, Acta Materialia 53, 2005, pp 5033-55

 

December 2007

"Metal Whiskers: Failure Modes & Mitigation Strategies", J. Brusse, H. Leidecker, L. Panashchenko, MRQW, Dec. 2007

 

July 2007

"Review of Aerospace Corp. Pre- and Post-Project 1998 Tin Whisker Work", G. Eng, et al, Apr. 2003

 

June 2007

"Understanding Tin Plasmas:  A New Approach to Tin Whisker Plasma Risk Assessment", G. Eng, Intl. Symposium on Tin Whiskers,  Apr. 2007

"Tin Plasma Video", G. Eng. Intl. Symposium on Tin Whiskers, Apr. 2007

"Evaluation of Faradayic Plating Method for Controlling Tin Whisker Growth", H. Garich, Intl. Symposium on Tin Whiskers,  Apr. 2007

"Mitigating and Preventing the Growth of Tin and Other Metal Whiskers on Critical Hardware", S. Barr, 2007

Paper

Presentation

May 2007

"Metal Whiskering", H. Leidecker, Intl. Symposium on Tin Whiskers, Apr. 2007

"Space Shuttle Program-Tin Whisker Mitigation", K. Nishimi, Intl. Symposium on Tin Whiskers, Apr. 2007

NASA Shuttle Logistics Depot - Tin Whisker Video

Hi-Res MPEG file (~45MBytes)

Lo-Res WMV file (~11Mbytes)

March 2007

Tin Whisker Videos! Card Rails, Connectors, Transformers, RF Enclosures

 

December 2006

"Nickel Cadmium Batteries:  A Medium for the Study of Metal Whiskers and Dendrites", A. Cyganowski/Notre Dame Prep High School, Dec. 2006

 

October 2006

"Tracer Diffusion in Whisker-Prone Tin Platings", T. Woodrow, SMTAI, Sept. 2006

Technical Paper

Presentation

"Evaluation of Conformal Coatings as a Tin Whisker Mitigation Strategy, Part 2", T. Woodrow, SMTAI, Sept. 2006

July 2006

"HP Experience with Tin Whisker Inspection Training", V. Schroeder, circa August 2005

June 2006

Videos - Metal Whiskers on Variable Air Capacitor, Terminal Lugs, et al


April 2006

VIDEOS - "Preliminary" Guidance for Optical Microscope Inspection for Metal Whiskers

"Tin Whiskers: A History of Documented Electrical System Failures", H. Leidecker, J. Brusse, April 2006

 

October 2005

NIST Workshop- October 5-7, 2005
"Restricted Substances in Materials: 
Testing and Reporting Procedures Workshop"


August 2005 

Westinghouse Nuclear Tech Bulletin TB-05-4, "Potential Tin Whiskers on Printed Circuit Board Components", June 8, 2005

Westinghouse Nuclear Tech Bulletin TB-02-5, "(Tin Whiskers on Potentiometers used in) Basler Power Supplies", July 12, 2002

 

July 2005 

P. Daddona, "Reactor Shutdown: Dominion Learns Big Lesson from a Tiny Tin Whisker", The Day (New London, CT), July 4, 2005

 

April 2005

T. Woodrow, "Evaluation of Conformal Coatings as a Tin Whisker Mitigation Strategy", IPC/JEDEC 8th International Conference on Pb-Free Electronic Components and Assemblies, San Jose, CA, April 18-20, 2005

Technical Paper (~11 Mbytes)

Presentation (~19 Mbytes)

January 2005

Anecdote - Field Failures from Tin Whiskers on Circuit Breaker Contacts

Anecdote - Field Failures from Tin Whiskers Breaking Loose from RF Lids

Anecdote - Tin Whiskers on RF Shields of GPS modules

"Zinc Whiskers: Hidden Cause of Equipment Failures", J. Brusse, M. Sampson, IEEE IT Professional, 2004 Nov/Dec Vol. 6. No. 6, pp 43-47

"Tin Whiskers:  The Next Y2K Problem?", I. Amato, Fortune Magazine

European Union RoHS Stakeholder Consultation

Stakeholder Feedback Requesting Exemption for Sn-Pb plated finishes

H. Reynolds, R. Hilty, "Investigations of Zinc (Zn) Whiskers using FIB Technology", IPC/JEDEC Boston, Dec. 2004

November 2004
    - Tin Whiskers on Ka Band Waveguide
    - Tin Whiskers on Matte Tin-Plated IC Leadframe
    - Zinc Whiskers on Zinc-Plated Steel Bus Rail
    - Gallery of Zinc Whisker Photos from Raised Floor Structures


- Metal Whisker Failures and Anecdotes

 

- OTHER Metal Whisker Links (e.g. Zinc, Silver, Gold)
   - ZINC WHISKER Links 

     -"Zinc Whisker Awareness:  Could Zinc Whiskers Be Impacting Your Electronics?", J. Brusse, Technical Presentation, April 2003

   - "GOLD Whiskers - Introducing a New Member to the Family", A. Teverovsky, April 2003
  
-TIN-LEAD WHISKERS

     -"Whiskers of Sn-Pb on REFLOWED Die Attach Solder Used in the
        Manufacture of Laser Diode Arrays", H. Leidecker

   - SILVER WHISKERS

     -"Degradation of Power Contacts in Industrial Atmosphere: Silver Corrosion and Whiskers", IEEE Holm Conference 2002, pp 140-150

 

-INDUSTRY WHISKER CONSORTIA
     - CALCE/Military OEM Tin Whisker Forum

     - EIA G-12 Committee, "GEB-0002: Reducing the Risk of Tin
       Whisker-Induced Failures in Electronic Systems"
     - National Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (NEMI)
            Accelerated Tin Whisker Test Team
            Tin Whisker Modeling Team
            Tin Whisker User Group

 

LITERATURE REFERENCES - >100+ Whisker Citations

Photo of the Month
April 2004:
Limitations of "Hot Solder Dip" for Tin Whisker Mitigation

Archive of Previous Photos of the Month

Objectives
This Tin and Other Whisker Information www site has been developed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's EEE Parts Engineering Organization in conjunction with the NASA EEE Parts and Packaging (NEPP) Program.  

The objectives of this site are to provide the government, industry and academia with:

Basic Info Regarding Tin and Other Metal Whiskers and Associated Risks
Tin Whisker Risk Mitigation Guidelines
NASA GSFC Experiment Status with Metal Whiskers
Literature References for Tin and Other Metal Whiskers 
 
 
Responsible NASA Officials:

   Michael Sampson/NASA GSFC Code 306
   Dr. Henning Leidecker/NASA GSFC Code 562
Additional Researchers: 

   Jong Kadesch/Orbital Sciences Corp.
   Jay Brusse/Perot Systems

Last Updated:

December 10, 2007

DISCLAIMER:
This website provides information about tin whiskers and related research. The independent research performed during the past 50+ years is so vast that it is impractical to cover all aspects of tin whiskers in this one resource. Therefore, the absence of information in this website about a particular aspect of tin whiskers should NOT be construed as evidence of absence.

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