A note on the effect of surface energy on the growth of a tin whisker

In this communication, we report theoretical analysis of the contribution of surface energy to the energy dissipation during the growth of a tin whisker in a tin film. The mass transport of tin for the growth of the tin whisker is grain-boundary diffusion. The surface energy hinders the growth of the tin whisker. There is a threshold of the strain energy stored in the tin film, below which no whiskers of corresponding radius can grow. The strain energy stored in a tin film prior to the formation of a whisker determines the growth time of the whisker if there are no other mechanisms for the dissipation and generation of strain energy.