Critical Electronic Product Analysis

A coworker was upset that his cell phone died, so he left it on his desk and he forgot it when he left for home. I sympathized with him. Today, cell phones are so versatile that they go everywhere with us, as our computers on the go, cameras, connection with the world and communication devices.  As important as cell phones are, how quality control is handled becomes even more critical for essential components of smart phones and tablets.  On a regular basis, materials testing labs like NSL Analytical Services provide services for electronics manufacturers, including analysis of component materials, product failure analysis and quality control services for materials enclosing devices.

Failure Analysis: Discovering the cause of failure can involve measuring plating thickness, checking for cracks in the plating, analyzing VIAs (vertical interconnect access), analyzing solder joints and searching for other defects.  Knowing what does not work, is contributory to discovering what will work.

Quality Control:  The glass on a cell phone or tablet must be indestructible, yet able to transmit the heat from a human finger.  The coating on the glass must be scratch resistant without interfering with the function of the glass.  The case must be tough enough to drop on concrete, resistant enough to withstand hot or sticky beverage spills, yet lightweight enough to be portable and convenient.  NSL Analytical Services regularly characterizes the materials that enclose devices, like both the glass and the amorphous metal making up the case. 

Material Analysis: NSL Analytical Services analyzes materials for correct chemical makeup.  Those materials are then subjected to several mechanical and physical tests, abrasion and scratch resistance, tensile strength, chemical resistance, heat resistance and impact strength.