Atmospheric Barrier
Protective sealing techniques must be applied to moisture-sensitive components to prevent moisture absorption during storage. This protective method is desiccant packaging, which uses moisture-barrier bags combined with drying agents and indicators. It blocks water vapor from reaching the silicon packages during transportation and warehouse holding.
The system protects the components until they are ready for surface mounting.
Moisture Removal
Drying agents inside the sealed bag absorb any ambient humidity that was trapped during the sealing process. Clay and silica gel are typical materials used to attract and hold moisture molecules. They can reduce the internal relative humidity to less than ten percent.
This dry environment prevents the plastic bodies of the devices from absorbing water.
Inspection Routine
Quality inspectors verify the status of the protective seal by scanning the color of the moisture indicator card through the bag or immediately upon opening. If the indicator card shows that humidity has risen above the safe threshold, the components must be baked. This check is performed at each transfer of custody.
It ensures that only dry components enter the production stream.
Storage Condition
Barrier bags are stored in dry areas with controlled temperatures to minimize the rate of water vapor transmission. The mechanical integrity of the seal must be maintained without any punctures or tears. If the seal is compromised, the drying agent saturates within hours and ceases to provide protection.
This dependency means that operators must handle the sealed bags with gloves to prevent punctures from sharp tools. Correctly sealed pouches can protect electronic parts for up to twelve months under standard warehouse climates.
