Ion contamination and pressure tolerant electronic systems

A possible source of trouble with electronic assemblies that are operated in a dielectric oil for pressure tolerant electronic (PTE) systems is the solution of ions in the oil environment. This possible source of trouble was identified in control experiments performed on commercially available petroleum and silicone-base oils. These experiments included measurements of the solubility, resistivity, and dielectric constant of saturated solutions of ionic species of chemical compounds dissolved in these oils. The results of the control experiments were compared with the neutron activation and dielectric analyses that were conducted on an oil that has been in service for two years in a PTE system. On the basis of these results, device surface inversion and corrosion resulting from these concentrations of oil-soluble ions, were assessed theoretically. The evaluations and conclusions pertain to semiconductor devices and materials in PTE systems.