Does the pcb board have an expiration date?
PCB board is a common basic component in electronic products. It plays a role in connecting and supporting electronic components in electronic equipment. Due to the influence of environmental factors and usage conditions, PCB boards will also be subject to certain loss and aging. Knowing how long a PCB board is valid is critical to maintaining and protecting the normal operation of electronic equipment.
How long is the validity period of PCB boards?
First we need to determine one thing, that is - the service life of PCBs depends on their storage and operating environment during use.
Let’s take a look at the impact of the material properties of the PCB board on its validity period. PCB boards are usually made of materials such as fiberglass and resin, which have certain weather resistance and heat resistance. Over time and changes in the environment, these materials may age and decompose, causing the performance of the PCB board to degrade.
If PCBs are stored correctly before installation and run in a cool, dry, moisture-free, dust-free environment, PCBs can last for decades without significant degradation.
What are the consequences if the PCB expires?
1. May cause oxidation of surface pads
Different surface treatments of circuit boards will have different anti-oxidation effects. In principle, ENIG requires that it be used up within 12 months; while OSP requires that it be used up within six months.
2. Gluing ability may degrade and deteriorate
After the circuit board is produced, the bonding ability between the layers will gradually degrade or even deteriorate over time. When it passes through the high temperature of the reflow oven, it may cause the circuit board to delaminate and produce surface bubbles, which will seriously affect the circuit board. Circuit board reliability.
3. It may absorb moisture and cause the panel to burst.
When the circuit board absorbs moisture and undergoes resoldering, it may cause problems such as popcorn effect, board explosion or delamination. Although this problem can be solved by baking, baking may cause other quality problems.
How to extend the service life of PCB?
PCBs will not expire directly, but with the development of technology, maintenance often becomes difficult due to the disappearance of replacement parts. But what many industrial equipment requires is stability, so how to extend the service life of PCBs?
PCB assembly can effectively extend the shelf life of PCB. Assembly and IQC of PCB, as well as conformal coating spraying and other operations can extend the service life of PCB. At the same time pages need to be protected from weather conditions such as excessive moisture.
What to do with PCB after it expires?
If you still want to use it, the PCB must be baked before it passes through the SMT reflow oven after it expires. It is recommended to bake at 105±5℃ (generally required not to exceed 125℃) for 2 hours. The purpose of baking is to The board is dehumidified and dehumidified to remove the moisture absorbed by the PCB from the outside world, and the performance is re-tested, which can extend the use time of the PCB.
Summarize
PCB expiration time depends on many factors, starting from the manufacturing and assembly process, and the correct storage and use environment, which can greatly extend the life of PCB.
