The effects of temperature and humidity on the growth of tin whisker and hillock from Sn5Nd alloy

► Tin whiskers and hillocks grow from Sn5Nd alloy due to oxidation. ► Temperature and humidity can affect the oxidation and the growth diversities. ► Growth models of whiskers and hillocks were proposed upon microstructural study. ► The proposed models can explain the characteristics of whiskers and hillocks.