Marking Permanency Test Explained

Today's semiconductor counterfeiters are intentionally remarking failed, refurbished, or otherwise fraudulent components with part numbers that are in high demand.  A simple Marking Permanency test can be utilized.

There are a variety of Military Specification and generally accepted manufacturing standards that stipulate that component markings must be resistant to a mixture of Mineral Spirits and Alcohol.  (I won't bore the reader of this blog with those standards)

If the marking on a component does not stand up to exposure to Mineral Spirits and Alcohol it should be considered a suspect counterfeit components.  The following photo's show a part prior to exposure:

Please note the results after exposure to Mineral Spirits and Alcohol below:

While the marking on this part did pass a marking permanency, it failed the blacktopping test shown in the next blog posting.