Robert, There are thermoplastics available that will go through a reflow oven. If you think about it there are lots of surface mount connectors that have injection moulded bodies. You just have to select the right polymer. If you want to change boxes then there are plenty of materials that boxes are made of that will survive my recommended 85 deg C. Polycarbonate being an obvious example. Best thing to do is to have a look through a catalogue. Of course if your problem is with the test rather than the end use perhaps you're considering changing the wrong thing.... Good luck, Eric Christison Msc Mechanical Engineer Consumer & Micro Group - Imaging Division STMicroelectronics 33 Pinkhill Edinburgh EH12 7BF UK Tel: +44 (0) 131 336 6165 Fax: +44 (0) 131 336 6001 -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of robert tarzwell Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 2:32 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] ABS Plastic Melting Temperature thanks, for the info , through web searches I have found the plastic guys are making great strides in high temp versions, found a poly company that is getting 130 c for food prep containers, thats almost to FR4 temps. I am working on the clear plastic boards and will try making some soon. robert Tarzwell ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dehoyos, Ramon" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 9:19 AM Subject: Re: [TN] ABS Plastic Melting Temperature > Hi Robert: > Do a search to find out the temp in the direct sun > in Phoenix Arizona. That will give you the temp in a car trunk In a trunk the highest temp would be under 60 deg C. The thermal chamber test is not indicative of reality. That is why in 20 years you have not had any problems. . The SQA group wants to cover their behinds in case something happens to a board while is being transported. I would also contact the ABS plastic box manufacturer. They probably have made tests that could provide the right info. > Regards, > Ramon > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Croslin, Robert [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > > Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 3:08 PM > > To: [log in to unmask] > > Subject: [TN] ABS Plastic Melting Temperature > > > > This is probably a little out of the normal range of questions taken > > by the > > Technetters, but here goes. We've been using various boxes made of > > ABS plastic with fire retardant to enclose our various electronic > > gadgets. In > > twenty years, we've never had a problem with any of them cycling > > back from > > the field with any kind of thermal related distortion or warp to the cases > > even though they may sit in a rep's trunk in areas like Phoenix, > > Arizona under elevated temperatures. Recently, our SQA group bought > > a new thermal > > chamber so they can do some environmental testing. They cooked the units at > > 80*C and the plastic melted. Not surprising, since the softening > > point is > > around 72*C. Now, they're asking the engineer to provide some kind > > of a test specification for them to test to. > > > > We've gone out and bought several specs used by the auto industry, > > but they > > just list various ranges and guide you to developing your own spec. Does > > anyone know of any spec anywhere that would cover plastics used in, > > or left > > in the trunk or interior of an automobile? > > > > Thanks in advance, > > > > Bob > > > > --------------------------------------------------- > > Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e > > To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following > > text in > > the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet > > To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) > > To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest > > Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives > > Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 > > ----------------------------------------------------- > > --------------------------------------------------- > Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To > unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in > the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt > or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) > To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest > Search the archives of previous posts at: > http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site > http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 > ----------------------------------------------------- > --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 -----------------------------------------------------