Tin whiskers

Posted by ESC on October 06, 2007

(I predict that this will become the name of a rock band.)

Tiny 'tin whiskers' imperil electronics
By JORDAN ROBERTSON, AP Technology Writer
Sat Oct 6, 2:23 AM ET

SAN JOSE, Calif. - They've ruined missiles, silenced communications satellites and forced nuclear power plants to shut down. Pacemakers, consumer gadgets and even a critical part of a space shuttle have fallen victim.

The culprits? Tiny splinters - whiskers, they're called - that sprout without warning from tin solder and finishes deep inside electronics.