HTV-TAB®- Long-term conservation

Globally unique TAB® long-term conservation process for the long-term storage of electronic components for up to 50 years

HTV-TAB® long-term conservation method (“Thermisch Absorbtive Begasung”, meaning a thermal-absorptive gas treatment):

• Conservation and storage of electronic parts such as components, assemblies, displays as well as wafers and dice for up to 50 years
• Drastic reduction of aging processes in contrast to conventional storage methods
  (see Comparison of storage methods), e.g.:
  • Immense reduction of diffusion (e.g., intermetallic phase growth)
  • Almost no corrosion and oxidation processes
  • Prevention of whisker formation and tin pest
  • Absorption of hazardous substances such as outgassing of plasticizers or corrosive gases
• Cyclic evaluation of goods in comparison to the results of previous evaluations
• Storage in high-security buildings
• Extension of product life cycles
• Assuring the after-sales business
  

The globally unique TAB® method, which has been proven for decades, drastically reduces the decisive physicochemical aging processes of electronic components through a special conservation with specific storage conditions and an environment which eliminates hazardous substances.

Material changes take place in the fastest manner possible during the first few years of any standardized storage. Components which are not required immediately should therefore be stored with the TAB® method as soon as possible to ensure a long product life.

Diffusion, a serious aging factor, is significantly reduced by the TAB® method, using the appropriate adjustment of storage temperatures and the associated increase of the so-called activation energy. This immensely minimizes the growth of intermetallic phase (i.e., diffusion at the component contacts) between the copper from the inside of the component pin and the tin of the pin surface. TAB® also strongly reduces the aging processes inside the component (i.e., diffusion at chip level). The formation of corrosion and oxidation is almost completely and extremely efficiently halted in the long-term, using specific absorption of moisture, oxygen and material-dependent hazardous substances. The risk of whiskers (tiny single crystal needles growing out of the material, which can lead to short circuits on printed circuit boards or individual components) and tin pest becomes negligible as well.

The components are packaged in several layers of various special functional foils developed by HTV, which prevent the penetration of foreign substances and can absorb even the most diverse hazardous substances.

As a complex combination of different methods TAB® avoids or rather reduces nearly all relevant aging factors.

Depending on their initial condition, electronic components can currently be stored for up to 50 years. The quality, processability and functionality of components and thus also the availability of spare parts are guaranteed for several decades. Under the purview of a strategic obsolesence management discontinuations of electronic components lose their sting as components acquired during end-of-sale/last-time-buy can be stored as a strategic reserve in the long run.

Storability according to the storage method

Effectiveness of TAB®-Long-Term Conservation compared to conventional nitrogen storage

Effectiveness of TAB®-Long-Term Conservation compared to conventional nitrogen storage

An exemplary indicator of harmful aging processes is the growth of the intermetallic phase, for example, between the outer tin coating and the base material of the contact pins: The direct comparison of components stored in N2-drypack and in TAB® shows clear differences in the growth of the intermetallic phase visible during SEM-EDX examination.

While an increase in the intermetallic phase of approx. 1 μm per year can be observed in conventional nitrogen storage, almost no phase growth can be seem in TAB® storage.

Almost no phase growth can be seen in TAB® storage

Prior to storage, a detailed examination and evaluation of the components to be stored forms the basis for TAB®-Long-Term Conservation. The components’ current aging condition, any pre-existing hazardous substances and risks are recorded via comprehensive and ultra-modern analytical procedures, in order to determine the parameters required for long-term conservation of the components.

Process diagram of the TAB®-Long-Term Conservation Method

Process monitoring and cyclical product evaluation of the stored components as well as continuous optimization of the storage parameters and regular analysis reports ensure the highest quality and transparency throughout the entire storage process. All data and analysis reports are archived for a period of at least 15 years after delivery of the entire goods to the client, enabling complete traceability far beyond the storage period.

Comparison of storage methods