Electronics & Consumer Services
The Electronic section provides services to three distinct sectors within the Electronics market:
Provision of services to the Disk Drive and Electronic industries for cleanliness analysis, contamination and failure analysis. Hard Disk Drive manufacturers constantly strive for higher areal density resulting in more stringent requirements for cleanliness. With dedicated and experienced analysts, ALS understands the industry and keeps pace with the latest test requirements to provide reliable and timely results.
ALS also services the market from an environmental perspective by specializing in RoHS, Halogen and other banned substances testing. The RoHS directive (2002/95/EC) was finalized by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on January 27, 2003. RoHS is an acronym for ‘Restriction of the use of Hazardous Substances’ in Electrical and Electronic Equipment. The regulation banned the use of certain substances in Electric and electronic equipment (EEE) sold from 1 July 2006.
Finally, in addition to health, safety, and environmental considerations, materials in EEE are of interest for their economic value. Recycling process allow the recovery of elements such as iron, copper and aluminium, as well as precious metals like gold and silver. EEE waste may also contain more “exotic” metals such as indium and germanium.
Electronic laboratories are located in Singapore, Thailand, China and Sweden.
Cleanliness & Contaminant Testing
FTIR Microscope
To analyze and identify tiny and localized organic contaminants such as residues of flux, rosin and adhesives, which can cause poor electrical contact or corrosion spots.
GCMS
To analyze trace amounts of volatile and semi volatile organic compounds
- Semi volatile organic compounds: Organic residues have the potential to cause various problems including bad contacts and corrosion. This analysis detects and identifies organic contaminants such as hydrocarbon or oil residue on casting and stamping alloy parts, flux residues, and adhesives.
- Volatile organic compounds: When coupled with a Static or Dynamic Headspace setup, it is an excellent tool for analyzing potentially detrimental organic substances that outgas from polymers or adhesives at higher operating temperature.
Ionic Chromatography
To analyze trace amount of anions such as F, Cl, Br, SO4, NO2, NO3, PO4, and cations such as Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, NH4. Ionic Contamination analysis can help to determine the cleaning efficiency of the process and track contaminants from handling, packaging and the raw material.
Liquid Particle Count
To measure the particles by suspending the sample in a liquid medium.
DI and Ultra pure Water testing
To perform sampling and testing of Ultra pure and DI Water for the following parameters:
- TOC
- Total Dissolved Silica (SiO2)
- Total Bacterial Count
- Trace Metals (including Zn, Fe, Cu, Al, Cr, Mn, Pb, Sn)
- Ions (F, Cl, Br, NO2, NO3, PO4, SO4, Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, NH4)
Failure Analysis
Temperature – Humidity Chamber
- To provide temperature-humidity stress test or corrosion test.
- Chambers ranges from –40degC to 140degC and 40% to 95%RH, voltage bias of up to +/-9V can be applied.
SEM EDX
To perform failure analysis or hard particle by a state-of-the-art Carl Zeiss FE SEM fitted with an Oxford EDX.
Environmental Analysis
ALS laboratories also provide banned substances testing to consumer products according to EU directives. The service covers:
- EU RoHS compliance and other banned substances testing on EEE
- Lead (Pb)
- Mercury (Hg)
- Cadmium (Cd)
- Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI))
- PBB (polybrominated biphenyls)
- PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers)
- Halogen free testing
- Migration metals according to EN71-3 for toy safety
- EU banned phthalates
- REACH SVHC 16 banned substance
- 16 Banned PAHs
ALS Specialty Electronics Laboratories have long experience in making full material declarations for EEE. Industry/manufacturer specific published lists of banned substances can be tested at ALS laboratories to certify that concentrations do not exceed applicable regulatory limits.
