Engineering Alert: Tin Whiskers

A very interesting page about the phenomenon of "tin whiskers"--the propensity for tin and tin-alloy metals to induce short circuits via spontaneous metal extrusion. Why is this important? Because the envrio-idiots are pushing hard to get lead removed from solder in worldwide electronics manufacturing. Lead is known to severely inhibit this phenomenon in tin, but many manufacturers are now considering the use of pure tin solder in bulk processes, in order to get the environ-mentals off their backs.

NASA, (for once, doing something useful with my tax money), is trying to get the word out that pure tin is not an acceptable alternative material. This is yet another example of willfully ignorant enviro-nuts pushing an agenda of superstition and unfounded accusation, resulting in real science and engineering facts being suppressed. Lead in solder is about as harmful to humans and the environment as oxygen in air.