Lead whisker growth from the metallic vapor phase

Vapor growth conditions for small (<10 nm) lead whiskers have been studied in a sealed cryogenic chamber with base pressure below 10-14 torr. Using a field emission technique developed by Gomer for mercury whiskers we have investigated the temperature range for exponential whisker growth; the crossing temperature (250 K) where two dimensional nucleation is thought to occur, and lower temperatures where nonexponential growth is observed. © 1978 American Institute of Physics.