Containment of tin diffusion bar

A surface-mountable fuse for protection against electrical overload, said fuse comprising:

• an electrically insulating substrate;
• a pair of terminal pads deposited on the substrate;
• a fusible link composed of a first conductive material deposited on the substrate and electrically connecting the terminal pads;
• a diffusion bar composed of a second conductive material deposited on the fusible link;
• a containment compound disposed on the diffusion bar, wherein the containment compound is an alumina-silica clay, and wherein the containment compound inhibiting migration of the diffusion bar along the fusible link under electrical overload conditions;
• and
• a protective layer deposited over the fusible link.

A thin film surface-mountable fuse for protection against electrical overload, said fuse comprising:

• a fusible link of a first conductive material deposited on a substrate and having a diffusion bar of a second conductive material along a section of the fusible link wherein under an electrical overstress situation the fusible link will blow at or near the diffusion bar;
• a containment compound deposited over a portion of the fusible link wherein the containment compound extends onto the substrate, and wherein under the electrical overstress situation, the containment compound inhibits migration of the diffusion bar along the fusible link;
• a pair of terminal pads electrically connected to the fusible link each terminal pad having a first conductive layer integral with the fusible link to form a continuous layer, a second conductive layer deposited on the first conductive layer, a third conductive layer deposited on the second conductive layer, a fourth conductive layer deposited on the third conductive layer;
• and
• a conformal layer deposited over a portion of the fuse to provide protection against external forces.