IEC 60512-16-21:2012

IEC 60512-16-21 ®
Edition 1.0 2012-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Connectors for electronic equipment – Tests and measurements –
Part 16-21: Mechanical tests on contacts and terminations – Test 16u: Whisker
test via the application of external mechanical stresses

Connecteurs pour équipements électroniques – Essais et mesures –
Partie 16-21: Essais mécaniques des contacts et des sorties – Essai 16u: Essai
des trichites au moyen de l’application de contraintes mécaniques extérieures

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IEC 60512-16-21 ®
Edition 1.0 2012-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Connectors for electronic equipment – Tests and measurements –

Part 16-21: Mechanical tests on contacts and terminations – Test 16u: Whisker

test via the application of external mechanical stresses

Connecteurs pour équipements électroniques – Essais et mesures –

Partie 16-21: Essais mécaniques des contacts et des sorties – Essai 16u: Essai

des trichites au moyen de l’application de contraintes mécaniques extérieures

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX L
ICS 31.220.10 ISBN 978-2-88912-057-4

– 2 – 60512-16-21 © IEC:2012
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope and object . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Test equipment . 6
4.1 Optical microscope . 6
4.2 Scanning electron microscope (SEM) . 6
5 Preparation of the specimens . 6
5.1 General . 6
5.2 Handling of the specimens . 7
5.3 Preconditioning . 7
6 Measurement of whisker length . 7
7 Test method . 8
7.1 Initial measurement . 8
7.2 Test . 8
7.2.1 General . 8
7.2.2 Test conditions . 9
7.2.3 Accelerated conditions . 9
7.2.4 Test duration . 9
7.3 Final measurement . 9
8 Requirements . 9
9 Information to be recorded. 9
10 Details to be specified . 10
Annex A (informative) Whisker growth due to mechanical stresses induced by
assembly processes and intended usage . 11

Figure 1 – Whisker length . 8
Figure A.1 – Filament whisker . 11
Figure A.2 – Whisker on contact . 11
Figure A.3 – Whisker on FFC . 11

Table 1 – Preconditioning heat treatment of specimens for whisker test . 7

60512-16-21 © IEC:2012 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
CONNECTORS FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT –
TESTS AND MEASUREMENTS –
Part 16-21: Mechanical tests on contacts and terminations –
Test 16u: Whisker test via the application of
external mechanical stresses
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60512-16-21 has been prepared by subcommittee 48B:
Connectors, of IEC technical committee 48: Electromechanical components and mechanical
structures for electronic equipment.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
48B/2284/FDIS 48B/2294/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
A list of all parts of IEC series 60512, under the general title Connectors for electronic
equipment – Tests and measurements, can be found on the IEC website.

– 4 – 60512-16-21 © IEC:2012
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the stability date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
60512-16-21 © IEC:2012 – 5 –
CONNECTORS FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT –
TESTS AND MEASUREMENTS –
Part 16-21: Mechanical tests on contacts and terminations
Test 16u: Whisker test via the application of
external mechanical stresses
1 Scope and object
This part of IEC 60512, when required by th
...