Environmental Testing - Basic Knowledge ESPEC CORP.

Title
Necessity of Environmental Testing
Theme Major Temperature Tests

Test on/

High temperature storage

Test description

Test to examine equipment and parts condition after storage under high temperature,
for a determined period of time.

(ex: Storage at 120ºC for 100hrs.)

Major effects

High temperature can cause changes in size and changes of the physical/ chemical
properties of the specimen.

Degradation accelerated by oxidation and chemical reaction, expansion and wearout

by the loss in lubrication properties, insulation defect, discoloration, etc.

Low temperature storage

Test description

Test to examine equipment and parts condition after storage under low temperature,
for a determined period of time.

(ex: Storage at -40ºC for 100hrs.)

Major effects

Low temperature can cause changes in physical properties of the specimen.

Increase of viscosity, coagulation, freeze, decrease of the mechanical strength, 、

weakening, appearance of cracks due to physical contraction, moving parts’ wearout
caused by lubrication drop, etc.

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Theme Major Temperature Tests
Heat cycle, Temperature cycling, Thermal shock

Test description

Test to examine on parts, equipment, or equipments’surrounding the impact

of temperature change and repeated temperature changes.

Major effects

Test names sometimes vary between standards naming, and commonly used
terms. ESPEC definition are as shown below:

Test denomination

Thermal Cycling Test

Temperature Cycling test

Thermal Shock Test

ESPEC naming

液槽
Liquid thermal
Temperature cycle test Thermal shock test サーマルショック
shock test
熱衝撃試験

Liquid thermal
Slow Temperature rate of change Fast
shock test

Temperature cycling

Test description

Test inducing a stress to the specimen, by alternating

repeatedly hot and cold temperatures with a controlled
temperature change rate of less than 15ºC/ min.

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Environmental Testing - Basic Knowledge ESPEC CORP.

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Theme Major Temperature Tests (Thermal Shock)
Thermal Shock (Air to Air)

Test description

Test inducing a thermal shock to the specimen, by

alternating repeatedly hot and cold temperatures
with a quick temperature rate of change.

Main required settings for Thermal Shock test

(Air to Air)
① Temp. (Low, High) ② Periods (low temp. ambient, high temp.)
③ No. of cycles ④ No. of zones (2 zones, 3 zones) ⑤ Starting point (low
temp., high temp.)
.
High temp.
t3 t3
Amb.
t2

1 cycle 1 cycle
Low temp. t1 →ｔ t1

Low temp. time: t1 Ambient time: t2 High temp. time: t3

Thermal Shock (Liquid to Liquid)

Test description
Test inducing a thermal shock to the specimen, by alternating
repeated dipping in hot and cold baths with a quick temperature
rate of change.
Failure modes are differents under liquid or air environment;
therefore, liquid thermal shock test is usually performed when breakdowns are
difficult to detect with the Air Thermal Shock Test.
Main required settings for Thermal Shock test (Liquid to Liquid)
① Temp. (Low, high) High temp.
t3
② Periods (Low temp., high temp.)
③ No. of cycles
1 cycle
④ Starting point (low temp., high
temp.) Low temp. t1 →t
* No. of zones is only 2 zones

Low temp. time: t1 High temp. time: t3

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Environmental Testing - Basic Knowledge ESPEC CORP.

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Theme Major Temperature Tests

Major effects

・The rapid temperature change leads to expansion/ contraction of the materials

・Abrasion/ crack of the coating surface

・Leak of the packing material

・seams opening of both package and sealing parts

・Transformation of parts, generation of cracks, etc.

High temperature / high humidity

Test description

Test to examine the changes in the specimen/ parts induced by parts’ water
absorption, after storage under et high temp./ high humidity conditions.

(Ex: 85ºC/ 85%rh during 1000hrs, etc.)

Major effects

High temperature and high humidity environment can cause physical or mechanical
changes of the specimen caused by water absorption.

・Corrosion, electrolyse, mechanical strength degradation, bulge, insulation, drop of

the resistance (impact of humidity, formation of conductive parts) etc.

Temperature & humidity cycling

Test description

Test to examine equipment and parts condition after repeated cycles of 2 or more
combined temp. & humidity conditions. (Among temp. & humidity conditions, those
involving temperatures below 0ºC are numerous)

(Ex: 65 ºC/95%rh  25ºC/95%rh  -10ºC  25ºC/95%rh)

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Environmental Testing - Basic Knowledge ESPEC CORP.

Title
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Teessttiinngg
Theme Major Temperature Tests

Major effects

・ Temperature and humidity cycling can cause mechanical and physical changes of
the specimen due to the breathing mechanism of humidity (and freeze), not
because of water absorption.

・ Parts with a strucutre favoring the development of breathing mechanism generates

the same changes as observed with high temp. & high humidity.

Pressure cooker (HAST)

Test description

Test to examine the equipment and parts condition after being submitted to a high
pressure at over 100ºC, under high humidity conditions.

(Ex: 121ºC/ 100%rh, 0.1985MPa abs., 120ºC/ 85%rh, 0.169MPa abs.)

Test to check the specimen’s moisture resistance, like the high temperature & high
humidity test.

Major effects

Used as an accelerated high temp./ high humidity test, to examine the PCB made of
plastics and electronic parts, with sealed packaging using plastic.

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