Research findings and projects

The percentage of failures due to corrosive processes in automotive electronics has increased significantly in recent years due to miniaturization and the widespread use of control electronics. A rapid test now enables efficient testing of the corrosion behavior of new materials and combinations of materials.

New results on the influence of copper wire material on corrosion-resistant packages and systems for high temperature applications were recognized.

Moisture, temperature, and pollution can trigger corrosive processes in the materials used in electronic components. Corrosion usually occurs locally and has a significant impact on electronic components and can even lead to their failure. At the Fraunhofer IMWS, a new and faster method for testing corrosion was developed.

When materials react with moisture or gases such as oxygen or nitrogen oxides, the resulting corrosion processes can affect the properties of the materials. The Fraunhofer IMWS is working on solutions to protect materials used in electrical contacts against corrosion by optimizing their surfaces.

Electronic components for automotive applications are exposed to extreme operating conditions, which then pose considerable challenges to quality control processes. The Fraunhofer IMWS has described the causes of corrosion defects in dielectric layers of a Hall sensor under the influence of various stress factors.