Failure-rate studies on silicon rectifiers

The magic word semiconductor has been placed upon the lips of almost every electronically minded individual in the United States through untiring publicity efforts by manufacturers and their representatives. In accomplishing this purpose, the sales promoter often has impaired the future value of these new devices with predictions of unlimited life and hopeful claims for operating capabilities. These claims, although corroborated by theory, apparently have not yet been fulfilled in reasonable quantity with present production techniques for low-power silicon rectifiers. Until greater reproducibility can be attained, derating of both forward current and reverse voltage is necessary for a useful low failure rate.