Tin pest is an autocatalytic, allotropic transformation of the element tin, which causes deterioration of tin objects at low temperatures. Tin pest has also been called tin disease,[1] tin blight, tin plague,[2] or tin leprosy.[3] It is an autocatalytic process, accelerating once it begins. It was first documented in the scientific literature in 1851, having been observed in the pipes of pipe organs in medieval churches that had experienced cool climates.[4]
With the adoption of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) regulations in Europe, and similar regulations elsewhere, traditional lead/tin solder alloys in electronic devices have been replaced by nearly pure tin, introducing tin pest and related problems such as tin whiskers.[5][6]
- ^ Barthelmy, Michael (1997). Problems With Pure Tin Coatings (PDF) (Report). NASA.
- ^ Carrlee, Ellen (2003). "Does low-temperature pest management cause damage? Literature review and observational study of ethnographic artifacts". Journal of the American Institute for Conservation. 42 (2): 141–166. doi:10.1179/019713603806112732.
- ^ The Organ Yearbook. Vol. 22–23. University of Virginia. 1992. p. 136 – via Google Books.
- ^ Bucur, Voichita (2019). "Degradation of Organ Pipes and of Brass Instruments". Handbook of Materials for Wind Musical Instruments. Springer. pp. 637–678. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-19175-7_18. ISBN 978-3-030-19174-0.
- ^ Burns, Neil Douglas (Oct 2009), "A Tin Pest Failure", Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention, 9 (5): 461–465, doi:10.1007/s11668-009-9280-8, ISSN 1864-1245, S2CID 136953708 , (Print) ISSN 1547-7029
- ^ Tin Pest Control National Physical Laboratory, www.npl.co.uk Archived 2020-05-05 at the Wayback Machine