TEM AND SEM ANALYSIS FOR FORMATION MECHANISM OF TIN WHISKERS
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Date
2012-07-09Author
KUWANO, NORIYUKI
HORIKAMI, SADANORI
MAEDA, MASANORI
SOSIATI, HARINI
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Close observation with a transmission electron microscope (TEM) and a scanning electron
microscope (SEM) was performed for the growth process of tin (Sn) whiskers on lead (Pb)-free
Sn-plating. Whiskers were formed on a Sn layer plated on Cu/polyimide flexible substrate. The
whisker was found to be of a single crystal and have a characteristic "Y"-shaped grain boundary
structure at its root. The growth process of a curling whisker was successfully observed in a
continuous way in SEM. TEM observation revealed that the curling whisker had a single
crystallographic orientation irrespective with its external shape. these microstructures indicate that
the rearrangement of dislocations plays an important role in the growth process of whiskers.