white plague

Etymololgy



 * From the white pallor of victims of the disease
 * From the colour of the deposits which cause electrical problems to plague devices

Noun

 * 1)  Tuberculosis, especially of the lungs.
 * 2)  The white gold-aluminium intermetallic compound Au5Al2, which can be formed when gold and aluminium are heated in direct contact (for instance, at an electrical junction between gold and aluminium components).
 * 3)  The problems caused by the formation of this compound, including an increase in electrical resistance and formation of voids at the gold-aluminium junction, potentially culminating in total failure of the junction.

Coordinate terms