From another mailing list... Mike WA6ILQ
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:10:02 EDT >Subject: Anti-Static conductive foam warning > >Apologies to those who might see this on more than one group or list and >apologies again if it's old news to everyone but me, but I did think it >important enough to share. > >I've just retrieved a pair of ICs that have been dry stored as spares in a >component storage rack since 1979, a long time I know but probably >not that unusual for those of us using and maintaining older equipment. > >These, as I thought anyway, were correctly stored with the pins pressed >into black anti-static foam, the usual stuff that's been used for >this purpose >for years. > >Unfortunately the foam has broken down into a sticky crumble and the >plating on the IC pins is quite badly corroded, probably to the point >where they won't take solder. A metal canned crystal lying against the >foam has also corroded at the pont of contact. > >I've seen this stuff turn into a gooey mess inside some instrument cases >but hadn't previously even thought about the same thing happening >where it's used used for component storage. > >I've checked other trays and whilst not too many used this stuff but >where they did there's evidence of similar problems. > >I've even got a later large component rack, all ok so far but for how >long?, where it was fitted from new to every drawer:-( > >That's all, just offered as a word of warning to anyone else with components >similarly stored. > >regards > >Nigel >GM8PZR
