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Materials Upgrade for Test Sockets
April 9, 2007 |Estimated reading time: Less than a minute
CHANDLER, Ariz. and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. Piper Plastics, Inc., a plastics-parts machining company, is producing test socket components from EPM-2204U-W: a proprietary grade, based on VICTREX PEEK polymer, that resists moisture absorption and suits fine-pitch and fine-diameter holes. The plastic components offer advantages over ceramics and other polymers, according to Dave Wilkinson, materials engineering manager.
Piper machines the sockets from EPM-2204U-W due to its impact strength, stiffness, minimal creep, and hydrolytic stability as compared to other polymers and its reportedly lighter weight and tougher composition than ceramics. Dielectric properties make the grade compatible with insulative applications. The polymer features 13,000-psi tensile strength, with greater than 10% elongation and 650,000-psi modulus. Its water absorption is less than 0.40%. The material melts at 341°C and offers a glass-transition temperature (Tg) of 143°C.
Sockets machined from EPM-2204U-W blanks accept chips with hundreds of contacts, and operate through more than 100,000 insertions. This dimensional stability allows metal contactors to align with the circuit board throughout the socket's life, said Wilkinson. Materials properties make the polymer suitable for tight-tolerance machining and near-net injection molding, for end products that test microprocessors and other complex components.