Re: ATM Silicone Glue Causes Gas?? Say it Ain't So!

[Barbara & Matt <B.Smerald@worldnet.att.net>]

Tue, 24 Jun 1997 Kurt Hillig wrote:
 
> Note that glass (nominally silica) and IC chips (nominally silicon)
> are very different materials with very different properties. And in
> this case I'd be more inclined to suspect acid-accelerated stress 
> corrosion in the wire leads...

 Kurt:

  From my years in electronics, I think it is more than likely that
 the culprit is heat. Many IC packages are designed to require a 
 certain amount of air flow around them and/or heat-sinking surface 
 for heat dissipation.  Since cured RTV is an excellent insulator -
 unlike heat-sinking compound, heat would tend to build up, leading
 to early failure.
                                 Matt