Design of Tropical-Resistant Electronic Equipment

The war effort in Southeast Asia has again highlighted the need for protective techniques that can assure the reliable performance of electronic equipments in tropical environments, for nonmilitary as well as for military purposes. Examples of typical field-failure types will be shown, and a review of the various types of failure mechanisms that can occur in the tropics and their interrelationships is made. The various protective techniques that should be utilized in upgrading the tropical resistance of equipments are outlined. These include case designs~ parts and materials selection, finishes, cleaning techniques and moisture, fungus and corrosionproofing coatings. The climatic and field environmental factors that equipment must resist are given. Recommended environmental tests that provide proof of the quality of equipments, parts, and materials are listed. The need for improved materials, protective techniques, and designs for improved tropical resistance are outlined. These techniques are applicable to many commercial-type electronic systems of today, which require high reliability and special tropical reliability in the field.