Five-Year Life Test Data on Pressure (10 000 lbf/in2) Tolerant Electronic Components

A program is described where long-term reliability data on contemporary electronic components under a fluid pressure environment were accumulated. Resistors, capacitors, diodes, integrated circuits, inductors, and preamplifier modules that showed excellent short-term immunity to pressure were pressure-cycled five times and stored in silicone oil at 10 000 lbf/in2 (deep ocean pressure) for five years. The test results of these six classes of components (750 individual components) indicate that the high-pressure oil is not a harsh environment if the components and oil are properly selected and screened.