When counterfeit electronic components 1st began surfacing it was typically effortless to spot them. The markings on the chip could be blatantly wrong such as the wrong logo for the business who supposedly produced the product or perhaps a marking which would simply rub off. As the counterfeiters have gained sophistication, their fake components are tougher to spot. Even checking the markings on the chip (Blacktop Markings) now requires rigorous testing procedures.

Counterfeit parts have become a considerable concern inside the electronic component industry. At times these counterfeits are clones – attempts to copy the genuine parts. In other cases, the counterfeiters will re-mark a part. The counterfeiter will take a component produced for a distinct purpose and change the markings on part so it will appear to be an additional portion.

Why does this matter? Electronic components are built to precise standards to perform extremely precise jobs. These components then undergo rigorous testing to make sure they are going to carry out as anticipate under all circumstances. You would not build an airplane with untested screws that almost fit. It is actually potentially additional harmful to make use of electronic components that are practically proper.

The US military has developed detailed specifications for ways to test components. These specifications have become the business standard, applied to test each military and non-military parts. The military standards are essential in determining the authenticity of components. Reputable electronic component testing firms adhere to those published specifications. Still, you will discover variations and proprietary approaches of ways to implement those specs and maintain high quality manage for the duration of testing.

(Note: The following test is made use of as general example for the purposes of this write-up. Some distinct steps and proprietary information and facts has been omitted.)

Marking Permanency (Resistance to Solvents) Test:

The purpose of a Marking Permanency test would be to verify that the parts when subjected to solvents will maintain their correct markings. Counterfeit parts often have new markings which are not permanent; they’ll dissolve when the solvents are properly applied. Also, the solvents will reveal evidence of previous markings which have been sanded off or otherwise replaced by the false markings.

Various Military Regular procedures are applied which incorporate processes of working with many chemicals mixed appropriately and in detail is in accordance using the specifications. These chemicals consist of Aliphatic alcohol, mineral spirits, ethyl-benzene, organic solvents, de-ionized water, propylene glycol monomethyl either, or monoethanloamine.

When properly mixed the components are submerged in a three phase procedure and analyzed in accordance with MIL-HBK-130 to uncover evidence of harm to the device and any specified markings that are missing in entire or in part, faded, smeared, blurred, or shifted (dislodged) towards the extent that they cannot be readily identified from a distance of at least 15.0cm (6 inches) with standard room lighting and without having the aid of magnification or with a viewer getting a magnification no greater than 3X. In some situations, a strategic acetone wash will be applied to reveal sanding marks and facets of previous markings.

Blacktop marking is just one test in a multi-step method used to discover counterfeit electronic components. Other tests consist of closely checking the physical dimensions along with the packaging too as the performance of the chips. Counterfeit electronic components are on the rise in each military and civilian merchandise. As the counterfeiting gets more sophisticated, testing houses continue to create finely tuned procedures to separate the fake goods from the genuine parts.

Joseph Federico is VP and director of operations for NJMET, based in Clifton, NJ. NJMET gives specialist electronic component testing towards the Commercial, Military, Aerospace, Industrial and Automotive fields worldwide. Its state of the art Mission Imposter® Counterfeit Detection Approach identifies counterfeit or cloned products.