ESPEC has launched a new thermal cycle chamber, the TCC-151W-20, which will now be available in the UK through Unitemp. The testing solution has been designed to achieve a controlled specimen temperature ramp rate of 20 kelvins per minute (K/min), to meet the increasing demands of international standards for semiconductor and electronics reliability testing.
As semiconductor devices continue to evolve to support applications such as autonomous vehicles, thermal stress testing under extreme conditions has become essential. The TCC-151W-20 has been engineered to support these requirements, with a temperature range from -70°C to +180°C and precise specimen-based ramp control at both 15K/min and 20K/min. This enables compliance with key global testing protocols, including JEDEC JESD22-A104, IPC-9701, and the latest revision of IEC 60068-2-14 Nb, which mandates faster, constant-rate thermal cycling for electronic and in-vehicle components.
The chamber features a cascade refrigeration system that uses R-449A refrigerant in place of the previously used R-404A. This transition results in a 64% reduction in global warming potential (GWP), decreasing from 3920 to 1397. The change supports compliance with environmental regulations, including the UK’s fluorocarbon management requirements.
The internal test volume of the chamber is 160L, with internal dimensions of 800mm wide by 500mm high by 400mm deep. The unit achieves the 20K/min ramp rate using a 5kg specimen (glass epoxy board) and a 4kg jig, providing consistent and repeatable test conditions for high-reliability electronics.
The chamber is designed to offer manufacturers a dependable solution for qualifying electronic components under demanding thermal cycling conditions. It responds to increasing industry demands on developers to meet strict qualification requirements while reducing environmental impact.
In related news, the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) has opened a clean and dry zone (CDZ), which is available for use by cell developers, equipment manufacturers and specialists working in the battery sector. Read the full story here