Some aspects of adhesive-induced corrosion in electronic devices

Corrosion is usually not the primary concern of engineers who design and fabricate electronic devices, nor is it usually the prime concern of many materials engineers and suppliers. Part of the reason for this is undoubtedly related to the economics of profits and planned obsolescence while some of the reason must unfortunately be attributed to a lack of awareness of the potential problem. The situation is further confused by the types and numbers of materials-related corrosivity tests currently in use which are mainly characterized by their subjective appraisal, questionable relevance, and capacity for confusion. An example would be the noncorrosive rating of a two-part, room-temperature-curing epoxy adhesive applied to a polished metal plate and subjected to salt-spray. This same adhesive could be a corrosive disaster in an electronic device.