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Research by the University of Maryland’s Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering has been cited by the Huffington Post in an article about a technical problem with Toyota automobiles. The article suggests that tin whiskers – metal fibers that grow on electrified tin – are responsible for causing Toyota Camry sedans to suddenly accelerate without warning. CALCE’s research was conducted by Prof. Michael Pecht, Director of CALCE, along with CALCE scientists Bhanu Sood and Dr. Michael Osterman.  Using X-ray fluoroscopes and scanning electron microscopes to reach their conclusions, the team found that tin whiskers in Toyota gas pedals could potentially result in shorting failures in 140 out of 1 million vehicles. The research team used X-ray fluoroscopes and scanning electron microscopes to reach their conclusions.

The Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering (CALCE), the largest electronic products and systems research center focused on electronics reliability, is dedicated to providing a knowledge and resource base to support the development of competitive electronic components, products and systems.



The Huffington Post article is available here. View the original CALCE technical paper.

 



January 27, 2012


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