The crystallographic growth directions of Sn whiskers

Abstract The growth directions of 55 Sn whiskers, i.e. the crystallographic orientation parallel to the whisker-growth axes, were determined using (i) a focused ion beam microscope for the determination of the physical growth angles of the whiskers with respect to a specimen (reference) coordinate system and (ii) an electron backscatter detector in a scanning electron microscope for the determination of the crystallographic orientation of the whiskers. The Sn whiskers were found to grow preferentially along low-index directions of the β-Sn crystal structure. The experimental findings of this study (and most of the results presented in the literature as well) were explained by applying, in a modified way, the Hartman–Perdok concept of periodic bond chains, i.e. chains of strong bonds running uninterruptedly through the structure, to the Sn whisker-growth phenomenon.