Surface microanalysis of tin and bismuth-tin coatings by means of instantaneous radiation from nuclear reactions

The authors investigate the surface and bulk oxygen and carbon contents of tin and tin-bismuth alloy coatings immediately after deposition and 6 months later. The authors used microanalysis based on instantaneous radiation from nuclear reactions. The specimens were irradiated with 1.15 MeV deuterons in an electrostatic accelerator. The bulk carbon and oxygen contents of the coating vary by less than the error (15%) during storage. Mat coatings of tin rapidly lose their solderability owing to rapid oxidation of the surface. The large inclusions of organic additives in lustrous coatings can improve their solderability.