Particle enhanced composition for whisker mitigation
AssigneeBAE Systems Controls Inc.
InventorsStephan John Meschter, Stephen Arthur McKeown
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Abstract
A method of obstructing metal whisker growth that includes providing a conductive structure comprised of a whisker forming metal, and forming a composite coating on the whisker forming metal. The composite coating may include a matrix phase of a polymer and a dispersed phase of reinforcing particles. The reinforcing particles are incorporated into the polymer to provide the composite coating with mechanical properties that obstruct whiskers from penetrating through the composite coating.
Claims30
A conductive structure comprising:
- a whisker forming metal;
- and
- a composite coating comprising a matrix phase of a polymer and a dispersed phase of reinforcing particles, the composite coating encapsulating the whisker forming metal, wherein at least the reinforcing particles within the matrix phase of the polymer provides the composite coating with mechanical properties that obstruct whiskers produced by the whisker forming metal from protruding through the composite coating.
A method of obstructing metal whisker growth comprising:
- providing a conductive structure comprised of a whisker forming metal;
- and
- forming a composite coating on the whisker forming metal, the composite coating comprising a matrix phase of a polymer and a dispersed phase of reinforcing particles, wherein the reinforcing particles are incorporated into the polymer to obstruct whiskers produced by the whisker forming metal from penetrating through the composite coating.
A method of obstructing electrical shorting comprising:
- providing a conductive structure adjacent to a whisker forming material;
- and
- forming a composite coating on the conductive structure, the composite coating comprising a matrix phase of a polymer and a dispersed phase of reinforcing particles, wherein the reinforcing particles are incorporated into the polymer to obstruct whiskers produced by the whisker forming metal from penetrating through the composite coating into contact with the conductive structure.
A conductive structure comprising:
- a conductive metal;
- a whisker forming material adjacent to the conductive metal;
- and
- a composite coating on the conductive metal, the composite coating comprising a matrix phase of a polymer and a dispersed phase of reinforcing particles having a hardness ranging from 25 Shore A to 100 Shore D, wherein at least the reinforcing particles within the matrix phase of the polymer provides said composite coating with a mechanical strength that obstructs whiskers produced by the adjacent whisker forming material from protruding through the composite coating and shorting the conductive metal to the whisker forming material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.