In this study, the effect of etchant strength on Sn whisker formation was examined.  When Sn-sputtered samples were etched with intermettalic compound (IMC) enhancing etchants, the spontaneous growth of Sn whiskers was highly accelerated. Three etchant solutions, all aqueous, were tested in an attempt to find different surface morphologies during the accelerated growth: 5% HCl; 2.5% HNO3, 1.5%HCl; and 20% HCl with 8 mg of iron (III) chloride. Etching with hydrochloric acid occasionally produced octahedral crystal and other surface growth instead of Sn whiskers. This study examined the variables associated with these unexpected growth patterns using EDX analysis and scanning electron microscopy.

Morphologies of Sn whiskers during accelerated growth experiments

247th National Meeting (2014)

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