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Tin Whiskers — Fact Or Fiction?
bLanark writes "Some time ago, most electronics were soldered with old-fashioned lead solder, which has been tried and tested for decades. In 2006, the EU banned lead in solder, and so most manufacturers switched to a lead-free solder. Most made the switch in advance, I guess due to shelf-life of products and ironing out problems working with the new material. Lead is added to solder as it melts at low temperature, but also, it prevents the solder from growing 'whiskers' — crystalline limbs of metal. The effect of whiskers on soldered equipment would include random short-circuits and strange RF-effects. Whiskers can grow fairly quickly and become quite long. Robert Cringley wrote this up this some time ago, but it seems that the world has not been taking notice. I guess cars (probably around 30 processors in a modern car) and almost every appliance would be liable to fail sooner than expected due to tin whiskers. Note that accelerated life-expectancy tests can't simulate the passing of time for whiskers to grow. I've googled, and there is plenty of research into the effects of tin whiskers. I should point out that the Wikipedia page linked to above states that tin whisker problems 'are negligible in modern alloys,' but can we trust Wikipedia? So: was the tin whisker problem overhyped, was it an initial problem that has been solved in the few years since lead-free solder came into use, or is it affecting anyone already?"
And, sorry, it may cause brain damage, when I grew up, the soldering iron was my sonic screwdriver, and 'flux' should be available as a room scent; I associate it with many happy memories. (Well, also with burnt fingers and exhausted frustration as expensive parts utterly failed to work at the 11th hour, but still. .
Ground-up ESTES rocket-engine powder is one of the others.
How did Heston put it. . .
-FL
Your brand of idiocy, where ham comes from cows, and lead poisoned retarded cows are loose in the streets, robbing trains, and killing women and children, uniquely qualifies you for political office. Left wing, of course.
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Tin Whiskers ?
I have Philips radio from 1939. Nothing special. Long waves, medium waves, short waves, bakelite case, quite small for tube radio. It still works thanks to the leaded thin soldering alloy. It just needs to be kicked hard sometimes because it tends to make whistling like noises.
Thin Whiskers !
Stop kidding me, if such thing existed, my radio would stop working 50 yeas ago.
The only reason why RoHS is so much enforced is throw it to the landfill recycling policy for the modern electronic.