The IEEE Gel Task Force-an early look at the final testing

In 1986, the IEEE convened a Task Force to explore the chip protection afforded through the use of silicone gels. There have been three rounds of testing: two to determine the promise and expectations of the technology, and the third to qualify the test sites. The overall thrust of the Task Force was to determine whether a thin coating of silicone gel on the surface of the semiconductor chip would provide corrosion protection equal to or perhaps better than the protection afforded by a ceramic hermetically sealed package. Six types of coating were used: five gels and, for comparison, one cell of silicone rubber. The results are summarized