Glass tubes vs tin whiskers

   Unlike lead, tin solder grows dendrites or whiskers which can short
circuit.  Same principle as concrete stalagtites growing beneath concrete
overpasses.  Some of the problems with battery fires are also caused by
lithium dendrites.  Speculation is that major space and car disasters where
caused by tin whiskers.  Makes me wonder, at least for very critical
components (eg space or mil), maybe they should be put in glass vaccuum or
argon tubes.  Anyone know more?


--
Vasos Panagiotopoulos  panix.com/~vjp2/vasos.htm
  ---{Nothing herein constitutes advice.  Everything fully disclaimed.}---