14.06.2014 Views

TO 1-1-700 - Robins Air Force Base

TO 1-1-700 - Robins Air Force Base

TO 1-1-700 - Robins Air Force Base

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

<strong>TO</strong> 1-1-<strong>700</strong><br />

Table 8-2. Materials, Their Electronic Applications, and Corrosion Symptoms - Continued<br />

Copper<br />

Cadmium<br />

Silver<br />

In electronics, copper is used for contacts, springs,<br />

leads, connectors, PCB conductors, and wires. While<br />

copper is fairly resistant to atmospheric corrosion, it is<br />

anodic to iron, steel, aluminum, and magnesium. This<br />

can cause galvanic deterioration in the presence of<br />

moisture.<br />

Cadmium is used as a plating to protect steel items.<br />

Cadmium is anodic with respect to steel, and thus is<br />

sacrificed when corrosive conditions exist.<br />

Silver is used as a plating in a variety of electronic<br />

applications.<br />

Corrosion of copper usually produces bluegreen<br />

salts, indicating active surface corrosion.<br />

The gray-green crust that frequently forms on<br />

copper structures is a protective oxide coating<br />

and should not be removed unless it is impairing<br />

the functionality of the device.<br />

Corrosion in cadmium plating produces a<br />

white, brown or black mottling on the surface.<br />

When this corrosion product is present, it indicates<br />

that the cadmium is still protecting the<br />

steel underneath. However, when rust appears,<br />

the cadmium is no longer providing protection<br />

to the steel underneath.<br />

Silver does not corrode in the conventional<br />

sense. It does, however, tarnish, producing a<br />

brown to black film. This film should only be<br />

removed if it is affecting the performance of<br />

the component.<br />

When silver is plated over copper, accelerated deterioration of the copper can occur. The product of this deterioration is called<br />

red plague. The product is a red and brown deposit on any exposed copper.<br />

Gold<br />

Gold is used as a plating in a variety of electronic applications.<br />

Purple Plague is a brittle compound formed when corrosion occurs in a gold-plated aluminum part.<br />

Tin<br />

Material Typical Applications Corrosion Symptoms<br />

Tin is used in solder. Also, tin plating is used on RF<br />

shields, filters, crystal covers, and automatic switching<br />

devices.<br />

Gold is very corrosion resistant and does not<br />

normally corrode. Gold will tarnish, however.<br />

Removing this tarnish is critical because gold<br />

plating is typically applied with a very small<br />

thickness. Also, gold plated over copper or silver<br />

will accelerate the corrosion of the copper<br />

or silver if there are any breaks in the plating.<br />

This corrosion is identified as tarnishing of the<br />

silver and blue-green deposits on the copper.<br />

Tin tends to grow “whiskers” on tin-plated<br />

wires or leads.<br />

Nickel Nickel is used as an electroless coating. Nickel is subject to pitting corrosion. Also,<br />

flaking of the nickel can occur as the base<br />

material corrodes.<br />

Table 8-3. Deterioration of Non-Metallic Materials<br />

Material<br />

Type of Attack to Which<br />

Material is Susceptible<br />

Appearance of Deterioration<br />

Acrylic UV light, moisture solvents Discoloration, cracking<br />

Adhesive Dirt, UV light, solvent moisture Cracking, peeling<br />

Ceramic Extreme heat Discoloration, cracking<br />

8-6

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!