Examining Electronic Components for Failure

To fully investigate a failure, you will often need to peel back the layers one by one

Examining Electronic Components for Failure

Electronic components can be ground and polished to facilitate the examination and identification of failures within the components. The process involves carefully removing a thin layer of the component's surface using grinding and polishing techniques. This exposes the internal structures and allows for a detailed inspection under a microscope or other specialized equipment.

Grinding is typically the initial step, where a coarse abrasive material is used to gradually remove the outer layer of the component, exposing the area of interest. This process is performed with caution to prevent excessive removal or damage to the internal components. Once the grinding phase is complete, polishing follows to smoothen the surface and remove any remaining scratches or imperfections. A fine abrasive material is used during polishing, along with a lubricant or polishing compound, to achieve a smooth and reflective surface. 

Rough and fine grinding steps

These steps are used to reveal the area of interest - in this case, a crack in solder.

These steps bring the area of interest to a cleaner state for microscopy photography.

Polishing steps

By grinding and polishing electronic components, potential failures can be revealed through visual inspection and further analysis. Defects such as cracks, delamination, voids, or contamination within the component can become more apparent under magnification. Additionally, the process allows for the examination of solder joints, wire bonds, and other interconnections to assess their integrity. This thorough inspection aids in identifying failures, determining the root causes, and devising appropriate corrective measures, ultimately contributing to the improvement of component quality and reliability.

If you have an electronic component that needs examining, Contact Us and we can discuss how best to resolve your issue.

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