TESAT Parts Agency

Failure Analysis

Parts Agency can carry out almost all Failure Analyses (FA) in its own laboratories. Across the group, we have additional special laboratories at the respective Airbus locations available upon your request. Sixteen experienced technologists specialized in the respective component family take over the planning and implementation of the FA. As a result, you will receive a report that, in addition to the cause of the failure, also gives recommendations for avoiding further.

Product managers for electronics know that immense costs are involved in the development and qualification of new boards. Nevertheless, even with components, a failure can creep in anytime and anywhere and thus raise big questions. In order not to jeopardize the investment, it is important to know the possible root causes of failures very quickly and determine counter measure.

Our state-of-the-art analysis laboratory and our methods offer well-founded possibilities to quickly narrow down the cause of the error and determine it as precisely as possible. The technologists are experienced employees who also carry out failure analyses for TESAT’s own equipment. We apply the same, highest quality standards to both analyses.

Our analysis methods and laboratory equipment conform to all common space systems - but also to those of industries beyond. The procedures under a FA are largely similar to those of a DPA. Due to the specialization of our laboratories on EEE HiRel devices, there is almost no limitation in the research method. In the first step, the errors are verified, for example by electrical tests with a SZ system, leak test or visual control (EVI) according to MIL-STD-750 or ESCC 20500. Various imaging methods, such as the C-SAM, support X-Ray as the most times chosen initial assessment. Further processes are used in the course of the research into the causes. With the penetrant dye test as a special variant of the Hermetic Seal Test (MIl-STD-750, Method 1071, Cond. E), even the smallest leaks can be identified and localized by fluorescence under UV light.

With the experience of the component laboratory, a number of unconventional possibilities have emerged as to how components can be opened without being destroyed. This almost craftsmanship is also a quality feature on this minimized level of component treatment, which cannot be told by any specification. We always keep an eye on market developments. Therefore, we are trained in opening plastic components with and without jet etcher. Even opening with a laser is not a problem for our technologists. After opening the component, further analyses can then be carried out to meet the requirements of ESCC 20400 or MIL-STD-750 and MIL-STD-883. The often visible damage is mapped using an optical microscope down to 1 µm or SEM down to 0.1 µm. The possibility of performing a material analysis or mapping (element mapping) in the SEM even makes melted whiskers visible.

Contact us for a failure analysis (FA) and benefit from the experience of our technologists. Our EEE laboratories are certified according to EN / AS 9100. This standard guarantees a quality management system that meets the high demands of aerospace and the defence industry. Our in-house calibration laboratory is also ISO 17025 accredited.