Commercial Electronic Components (COTS) and Reliability

Paper number

IAC-05-D5.2.07

Author

Mr. Duncan Crocker, IGG Component Technology Ltd., United Kingdom

Year

2005

Abstract

The use of commercial or COTS electronic components in the aerospace industry is increasing exponentially. This is trend is being driven by the lower cost of COTS components, the ever increasing functionality of COTS components and the diminishing sources of qualified components. End users are expecting higher levels of reliability and maintainability and are concerned that COTS components may not meet these requirements. These concerns have been high lighted by recent satellite failures. 

The immediate concerns are what is a component user buying when a COTS component is procured and how reliable will individual components be.

IGG has been evaluating new COTS components intended for space applications and analysing field failures from the wider military and avionics field since 1998.

The presentation will consider: -

Identifying counterfeit components
Recent experiences in the failure analysis of COTS components
The failure mechanisms which are predominant today
Results obtained through reliability testing
IGG's latest results in the study of components with pure tin (Sn) lead finish including copper tin intermetallics on pure tin lead finishes.
Long term storage of COTS.

Abstract document

IAC-05-D5.2.07.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-05-D5.2.07.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.