Coating for the mitigation of metal whiskers

Abstract

A coating for mitigating metal whiskers on a metal surface includes a polymeric coating material; and a metal ion complexing agent impregnated within the polymeric coating material, the metal ion complexing agent having a standard reduction potential) (E°) that is greater than a metal in the metal surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A coating for mitigating metal whiskers on a metal surface, comprising:
 a polymeric coating material arranged on the metal surface, the metal surface being a surface of an electronic component or device; and   a metal ion complexing agent impregnated within the polymeric coating material, the metal ion complexing agent having a standard reduction potential (E°) that is greater than a metal in the metal surface, such that the metal in the metal surface can be oxidized by the metal ion complexing agent;   wherein the metal ion complexing agent is a porphyrin, a substituted porphyrin, a carbaporphyrin, a substituted carbaporphyrin, a corrole, a substituted corrole, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The coating of  claim 1 , wherein the metal in the metal surface is tin. 
     
     
         3 . The coating of  claim 1 , wherein the metal surface includes about 97 to about 100 atomic % (at. %) tin. 
     
     
         4 . The coating of  claim 1 , wherein the metal in the metal surface is nickel. 
     
     
         5 . The coating of  claim 1 , wherein the coating has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 to about 20 millimeters (mm). 
     
     
         6 . A coating for mitigating metal whiskers on a metal surface, comprising:
 a polymeric coating material arranged on the metal surface, the metal surface being a surface of an electronic component or device; and   a metal ion complexing agent impregnated within the polymeric coating material, the metal ion complexing agent having a standard reduction potential (E°) that is greater than a metal in the metal surface, such that the metal in the metal surface can be oxidized by the metal ion complexing agent;   wherein the metal ion complexing agent is a corrole or a substituted corrole.   
     
     
         7 . The coating of  claim 6 , wherein the metal in the metal surface is tin. 
     
     
         8 . The coating of  claim 6 , wherein the metal surface includes about 97 to about 100 atomic % (at. %) tin. 
     
     
         9 . The coating of  claim 6 , wherein the metal in the metal surface is nickel. 
     
     
         10 . The coating of  claim 6 , wherein the coating has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 to about 20 millimeters (mm).