IPC 9201 : A

1 SCOPE AND DESIGNATION
   1.1 Scope
   1.2 Purpose
   1.3 How is SIR Testing Used?
2 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS
   2.1 IPC
   2.2 Joint Industry Standards
   2.3 International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
   2.4 American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
3 SURFACE INSULATION RESISTANCE
   3.1 Terms and Definitions
        3.1.1 Metal Migration/Filament Formation
        3.1.2 Electrochemical Corrosion
   3.2 Basic Concepts
        3.2.1 Sheet Resistance
        3.2.2 A 'Square'
        3.2.3 Series/Parallel Resistance
        3.2.4 Ohms Per Square
        3.2.5 Conduction Mechanisms
   3.3 Test Factors Affecting Results
        3.3.1 Wiring
        3.3.3 Sample Orientation in the Chamber
        3.3.4 Voltage
        3.3.5 Test Temperature
        3.3.6 Test Humidity
        3.3.7 Rate of Change, Ambient to Elevated
        3.3.8 Test board Design
        3.3.9 Frequency of Measurement
        3.3.10 Conformal Coating
   3.4 Known Process Effects on SIR Levels
        3.4.1 Precleaning
        3.4.2 Developing Process Effects
        3.4.3 Curing Effects
        3.4.4 Hot Air Solder Leveling (HASL)
4 ASSESSMENT OF SIR TEST METHODS
   4.1 Test Methods - General
        4.1.1 Cyclical Test Environments
        4.1.2 Harsh Static Environments
        4.1.3 Measurement Frequency
   4.2 Description of Test Methods
   4.3 Use of Salt Solutions
   4.4 Acceleration Factors
        4.4.1 Arrhenius Model
        4.4.2 Eyring Model
5 SETTING UP FOR SIR TESTING
   5.1 Data Acquisition and Associated Hardware
   5.2 Fixturing
        5.2.1 Fixturing Internal to Chamber
        5.2.2 Fixturing External to Chamber
   5.3 Chamber Design and Configuration
   5.4 System Verification and Calibration
        5.4.1 SIR Test Chamber
        5.4.2 The Data Acquisition System
        5.4.3 Test Supplies
        5.4.4 Power Supplies
6 RUNNING A TEST AND TEST CONSISTENCY
   6.1 Substrate Preparation Important Notes
        6.1.1 Test Specimen Marking
   6.2 Test Specimen Controls
   6.3 Pretest Checks
        6.3.1 Chamber
        6.3.2 Test Specimens
        6.3.3 Sample Randomization and Placement
   6.4 Starting the Test
   6.5 Test Chamber Monitoring
   6.6 Post-Test Operations
   6.7 Data Analysis Example
   6.8 Treatment of 'Anomalous' Data
7 QUALIFICATION PHASES
   7.1 Materials vs. Process Qualification
   7.2 Determining Acceptance Criteria
        7.2.1 Readings Vs. Visual Examination
        7.2.2 Temperature and Humidity Variations
        7.2.3 Discussion of Test Specimen Design
        7.2.4 Available SIR Test Vehicles
8 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PREVENTION OF SIR FAILURES
   8.1 Typical SIR Failures
   8.2 Contingencies
   8.3 Other Recommendations
9 SIR TESTING ON NONPRINTED BOARD MATERIALS
   9.1 Alternative Substrates
   9.2 Testing Other Printed Board Materials
   9.3 High Resistance Measurements
   9.4 Integrated Circuits (Wafers)
10 REFERENCES
   10.1 Published Papers
   10.2 Industry Contacts and SIR Equipment Vendors
APPENDIX A - LITERATURE REVIEW
APPENDIX B - LISTING OF TEST METHODS AND CRITERIA
APPENDIX C - SIR TEST VEHICLES

Covers the terminology, theories, test procedures and test vehicles of SIR testing, including temperature-humidity (TH) and temperature-humidity-bias (THB).