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Evidence of electric-field-accelerated growth of tin whiskers

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Abstract

This paper presents experimental results supporting a theory that electric fields accelerate the growth of tin (Sn) whiskers. We have rapidly (within one week) grown long (≈100 urn) and dense (≈300 mrrr2) whiskers on thin Sn films. Humidity and an applied electric field are found to have a strong effect when applied together, making whiskers orders of magnitude longer and denser. An evidence of explosive whisker development is presented.

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Acknowledgments

Microscopy for this study was done with equipment at the Center for Materials and Sensor Characterization center at the University of Toledo. We acknowledge A. D. Compaan for the deposition facilities and D. Strickler for the Pilkington TEC15-brand glass substrates. The financial support for this work was provided by NRC award No. NRC-HQ-12-G-38-0042 and NSF award No. 1066749.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA

    Anthony C. Vasko

  2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA

    Corey R. Grice

  3. Aerospace Corporation, 14745 Lee Road, Chantilly, VA, 20151, USA

    Andrew D. Kostic

  4. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA

    Victor G. Karpov

Authors
  1. Anthony C. Vasko
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  2. Corey R. Grice
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  4. Victor G. Karpov
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Correspondence to Victor G. Karpov.

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Vasko, A.C., Grice, C.R., Kostic, A.D. et al. Evidence of electric-field-accelerated growth of tin whiskers. MRS Communications 5, 619–622 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2015.64

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2015.64

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