The Role of Water in the Degradation of Electronics: Materials, Mechanisms, Protection, and Challenges
16 July 1990
Devices and components of electronic systems must perform with a high degree of reliability that is achievable only if failures from water-related materials degradation phenomena are eliminated. In this paper, we discuss the relevant properties of water and environmental contaminants at surfaces and interfaces and their interactions with metallic conductors, dielectrics, and inorganic and organic coatings used for printed circuit boards, discrete devices, and state-of-the-art integrated circuits.