Passivity and Corrosion of Electronic Materials and Devices.

The electronics industry depends on the passivation of metals and semiconductors for the success of its processing technologies and for the operation of its components and devices. The stability and reliability of many electronic materials, circuits and devices are critically dependent on the passivation of their surfaces. Device failures can frequently be attributed to the breakdown of passivity. In this paper, the gaseous and anodic passivation of electronic metals and alloys, the breakdown of passivity and subsequent corrosion of these materials, and the factors that affect passivation and breakdown such as moisture, contamination and applied voltage, will be discussed.