The RoHS Fiasco

[zapnspark]

See:
http://www.edn.com/article/CA6477864...&rid=203930815


The following is a short NASA video of tin whiskers that had grown in an old Grundig radio.

http://nepp.nasa.gov/whisker/video/1...n-whiskers.wmv

[jlsem]

Solen is selling their non-RoHS compliant capacitors for about half price:

http://www.solen.ca/salesol.htm

John

[DSP_Geek]

Originally posted by zapnspark
See:
http://www.edn.com/article/CA6477864...&rid=203930815


The following is a short NASA video of tin whiskers that had grown in an old Grundig radio.

http://nepp.nasa.gov/whisker/video/1...n-whiskers.wmv

Holy Smokes! I was about to buy some lead-free solder because I don't want my cats to get sick from accidental spills, but it looks like I'll just have to keep on policing the work area rigorously.

Thanks for the tip. I sent the article around the office; we work with fine-pitch electronics, so that should set the cat amongst the pigeons.

[zapnspark]

Here is another "hair raising" NASA video of tin whiskers growing on an RF enclosure. (excuse the pun)

http://nepp.nasa.gov/whisker/video/v...-enclosure.wmv

This RoHS tin whisker stuff is actually a very serious issue.

[paulbf1]

You bet it's a serious problem. I work for a company making ABS sensors and we have to be ROHS compliant for Europe. We have had some major problems with lead-free solder, as have everyone has. I will be hesitant to anything with EU electronics until they have this problem solved. At least I can buy a Swatch http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/ Big Grin

[Steve Eddy]

Originally posted by DSP_Geek
Holy Smokes! I was about to buy some lead-free solder because I don't want my cats to get sick from accidental spills, but it looks like I'll just have to keep on policing the work area rigorously.

jneutron posted about the tin whisker issue over on another forum a couple months ago and if memory serves, he stated categorically that tin whiskers are only a problem with pure tin, such as pure tin plating on component leads and the like, not with lead free solders which are are typically tin-based alloys, not pure tin.

That's not to say that lead-free solders can't have other issues. But apparently tin whiskers aren't one of them.

se

[jneutron]

Originally posted by Steve Eddy
jneutron posted about the tin whisker issue over on another forum a couple months ago and if memory serves, he stated categorically that tin whiskers are only a problem with pure tin, such as pure tin plating on component leads and the like, not with lead free solders which are are typically tin-based alloys, not pure tin.

That's not to say that lead-free solders can't have other issues. But apparently tin whiskers aren't one of them.
se

Hi Steve.

I used a coupla tons of it about 12 years ago, and the machine is working great so far. I pointed out to the mil guys about 6 years ago that while the application is working reliably, it was liquid helium environment. Nobody knows about tin whiskers at 4.5 Kelvin, but it sure puts the tin pest consideration to rest.

The military jury is still out on eutectic tin/silver..apparently (as HoJo also stated), they don't see a whisker problem with tin/silver, but they are holding out on the final word.

What scares me is 2/3rds of all the electronic parts being manufactured today are being matte tin plated. This is a huge concern for hi rel applications such as space, flight, medical, industrial, and control systems where reliability is the main concern. Testing and qualifying the manufacturing process for a two year product cycle life certainly doesn't float my boat..

Cheers, John

[Cal Weldon]

OT posts removed.

[zapnspark]

More on tin whiskers from PHYSORG

http://www.physorg.com/news110812295.html

[djQUAN]

all these problems with tin whiskers and the government isn't doing anything about it.

I bought a 2kg roll of 63/37 solder and will probably buy another roll before ROHS reaches our shores.....