What problems do metal whiskers cause?
According to NASA, metal whiskers are capable of carrying out three substantial attacks.
- Shorts – terminal to terminal, terminal to header, case to other component, even whisker to whisker, a metal whisker can create shorts in your devices.
- Metal Vapor Arcs – it’s possible for a metal whisker to vaporise, producing a highly conductive path capable of carrying large amounts of current and causing lots of damage.
- Contamination – a metal whisker can break loose and move around your device, even to areas that you may have thought safe from shorts or arcs.
Why do metal whiskers form?
Experts have found no single explanation for the formation of metal whiskers. Many theories have tried to attribute different occurrences to types of metals, contaminants, energy, electricity, damage, and more. Metal whiskers are seen more often growing on devices made with lead-free solder, but the mysterious appearance of metal whiskers has yet to be solved.
What about the lead ban?
Lead has been known to repel metal whiskers. However, beginning in 2006 the European Union banned lead and other hazardous substances from various types of electrical equipment. The concern over metal whiskers increased with the loss of this defense. Now as companies eliminate lead from their products, the search renews for successful techniques to battle metal whiskers.
How can I prevent metal whiskers?
Because nobody knows how metal whiskers are caused, it can be difficult to predict their appearance. There is no solution which will evade all metal whiskers, but there are a few practices to prevent or limit their materialisation.
- Do not use pure tin (or other metals such as zinc) coated components.
- Avoid the use of certain types of solder that are known to bolster the growth of metal whiskers. For example, pure tin solder exacerbates their growth.
- Some experts have found that a non-porous nickel layer under the tin plating prevents whiskers.
- Testing with high voltage can alert you to metal whisker growth. Cirris sells several hipot (high voltage) testers that are capable of finding whiskers.
- Dipping your device into an acid etch can clean off the metal whiskers. However, this is not a permanent solution and whiskers can grow back.
- Other specific circumstances can affect the growth of metal whiskers. To find out if any of these conditions apply to you, Raytheon has developed a tin whisker risk assessment algorithm.
Will Metal Whiskers affect my products?
Due to the unpredictability of metal whiskers and the increased risk from the lead ban, these microscopic destroyers have a higher chance of growing out of the metal conductors on cables and harnesses. By staying vigilant and using the right materials, you can reduce your chances of an attack from metal whiskers.
