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xkcd #3115: Unsolved Physics Problems (imgs.xkcd.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago by xkcdbot@lemmy.world to c/xkcd@lemmy.world

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Title text:

'Tin pest' makes more sense to me. Tin just doesn't want to be locked down in a shape like that. I get it. But why would any metal want to grow hair??

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Source: https://xkcd.com/3115/

explainxkcd for #3115

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[-] Successful_Try543@feddit.org 56 points 3 weeks ago

A colleague of me did his PhD exactly on the last topic.

[-] BartyDeCanter@lemmy.sdf.org 41 points 3 weeks ago

And does he know why? I've had to deal with it too often and it would be really nice to be able to expand RoHS to aerospace.

[-] Successful_Try543@feddit.org 63 points 3 weeks ago

Deep in the coating, where the Cu6Sn5 [Remark: intermetallic phase of Sn coating and Cu substrate] is present, the deviatoric strain was high. This indicates that the growth of the intermetallic phase causes plastic deformation of the tin coating.
[...]
A short (4 micrometre) radial gradient in hydrostatic stress was observed around the root of the whisker. This gradient together with long-range diffusion from specific regions could provide the driving force for whisker growth.

https://portal.research.lu.se/en/publications/tin-whiskers-experiments-and-modelling

[-] cmgvd3lw@discuss.tchncs.de 17 points 3 weeks ago

Did he found a cure for baldness?

[-] Successful_Try543@feddit.org 27 points 3 weeks ago

Well, if you are willing to coat your head with copper and some tin on top, you can grow yourself some tin whiskers. Yet, I don't know if they make a good replacement for hair.

[-] mojofrododojo@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

shaving is gonna be an adventure

[-] Honytawk@feddit.nl 7 points 3 weeks ago

No, but those zinc ingots now have great mustaches!

[-] elucubra@sopuli.xyz 2 points 3 weeks ago

There is no cure for baldness, else Bezos would have a mane.

[-] markovs_gun@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

Elon has hair plugs that admittedly look pretty good. I think Bezoa just lost his hair too quickly to fool anyone.

[-] bstix@feddit.dk 2 points 3 weeks ago

hair plugs that admittedly look pretty good.

Nah, it also doesn't fool anyone. it looks like a toupee, except that he can't take it off.

this post was submitted on 15 Jul 2025

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