Relifing Evaluation

Do you know in what consists the relifing process?

Relifing process consists in the evaluation of the electronic component reliability when stored for a longer period. Storage of EEE part represents a key process in space electronics activity, In order to cope with projects time schedule on one hand and with economical procurement constraints, on the other hand, parts are often to be stored for quite a long time. Obsolescence issues could require building strategic stock in order to be able to manufacture equipment over a period longer than the product life cycle. Many other factors can lead to the need of using parts that have been stored over a long period,  so the aim of this test is to consolidate such components and to validate their usability.

ALTER TECHNOLOGY offers its customers the most appropriate handling and storage conditions to avoid any damage or contamination of the EEE parts.

• Full control of the humidity and temperature conditions 24/7, 365 days a year (22ºC +/- 3 ºC; 55RH% +/- 10 ºC), preventing the undesirable effects of oxidation or ESD (Electro Static Discharge).
• – Nitrogen storage, it can be directly in a dry cabinet or MBB (Moisture Barrier Bags) filled with nitrogen, adding desiccant bags and moisture indicators.
• Powerful software, allowing quick access to EEE parts location.

On top of that, ALTER TECHNOLOGY offers its customers the relifing activity based on ECSS-Q-ST-60-14C, which allows validating the usability of the EEE components when the time period from the manufacturing date to the PCB assembly date exceeds a certain number of years.

If by any chance the component is obsolete and you need a replacement, doEEEt allows you to find the closest market alternative.

EEE components can undergo a certain degree of degradation during storage, mainly caused by unfavorable storage conditions or improper storage or handling. The relifing process aims to detect any latent or patent degradation in the product performance that could directly affect the system performance or pose a specific long-term threat.

The commonly used Europe ESCC standard ECSS-Q-ST-60-14C specifies the relifing requirements and the activities to be performed on products that have been stored for a long time. The test sequence defined in the standard has been optimized to obtain maximum confidence in the test results with a limited set of inspections. It can be summarized as follows:

1. External visual inspection: to detect (under magnification) signs of corrosion, degradation of the sealing material or other potential defects
2. Electrical measurements: to estimate the presence or absence of wear out caused by storage.
3. Seal test: to verify the hermeticity of the components
4. Any other specific test (for example the solderability test): to further verify the normal functioning of the components.

By its nature, relifing is a non-destructive set of inspections (except for special tests, such as solderability, performed on a limited number of samples) which allows to validate the usability of components when the time period from the manufacturing date (indicated by the date-code) to the PCB assembly date exceeds a certain number of years.