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Abstract: Sn whiskers are thin filaments that grow spontaneously out of the surface of coatings on Cu and have become a critical reliability problem in Pb-free electronics. In this review, we focus on what creates the driving force for whiskers (or more rounded “hillocks”), and what determines where on the surface they will form. Experimental studies are reviewed that quantify the relationship between the Cu–Sn intermetallic (IMC) formation, stress in the layer and whisker/hillock density. Measurements of the mechanical properties show how stress relaxation in the Sn layer is intimately related to how much stress develops due to the IMC formation. Real-time scanning electron microscope (SEM)/focused ion beam (FIB) studies are described that illustrate the whisker/hillock growth process in detail. Whiskers are found to grow out of a single grain on the surface with little lateral growth while hillock growth is accompanied by extensive grain growth and crystallite rotation. Electron-backscattering detection (EBSD) shows the grain structure around where the whiskers/hillocks form, indicating that whiskers can grow out of pre-existing grains and do not require the nucleation of new grains. This has led to a picture in which stress builds up due to IMC growth and causes whiskers/hillocks to form at “weak grains”, i.e., grains that have a stress relaxation mechanism that becomes active at a lower stress than its neighbors. FEA (finite element analysis) calculations are used to simulate the evolving stress and whisker growth for several different mechanisms that may lead to “weak” grains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Whiskers/hillocks grow out of Pb-free Sn coatings used in electronics manufacturing. To determine which grains form whiskers/hillocks, we use scanning electron microscopy and backscattering diffraction to simultaneously monitor the surface morphology and grain structure. To reduce surface roughness, we developed a 'peel-off' method to prepare ultra-flat samples that were measured repeatedly while whiskers/hillocks formed. We find grains that form into whiskers/hillocks are present in the as-deposited film (i.e., not re-nucleated) and many have horizontal grain boundaries beneath them. Grain rotation during whisker/hillock formation means that measurements performed after the features grow do not indicate their initial grain orientations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]