# Printed Circuit Board Analysis


A printed circuit board (PCB), also called a printed wiring board (PWB), holds electronic parts and connects them with copper traces, pads and plated through holes. Boards are inspected and classified to IPC standards, and Class 3 is the highest class. Each class sets limits for manufacturing defects.

PCB problems can come from the bare board or from assembly. Common failure modes include voids in plated through holes that cause opens, contamination that causes leakage or corrosion, and solder joint defects such as voiding in ball grid arrays (BGAs). Flexing during depanelization can also crack parts. Overheating and fires, and tin whiskers that cause shorts, are other cases.

The case studies in this category include a board with an open plated through hole and a board with a short caused by tin whisker growth in the solder mask. Others show BGA voiding, and flex damage to ceramic capacitors.

The lab uses [X-ray radiography](/analytical-services/x-ray-radiography/) to look inside solder joints and vias. We use cross-sectioning with [optical microscopy](/analytical-services/optical-microscopy/) to check plating and layers. [FTIR](/analytical-services/fourier-transform-infra-red-spectroscopy/) and [scanning electron microscopy](/analytical-services/scanning-electron-microscopy/) help to identify contamination.

To discuss a failed board, [request a quote](/contact/).


## Pages

- [Browning Trail Camera Recon Force Failures](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/browning-trail-camera-recon-force-failures/index.md)
- [Possible Bromine on Electrolytic Capacitors](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/possible-bromine-on-electrolytic-capacitors/index.md)
- [Contamination on Capacitor Sleeves, Pins, Oscillator](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/pcb-with-contamination-on-capacitor-sleeves-connector-pins-oscillator/index.md)
- [IXYSRF DE375-601N21A MOSFET](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/ixysrf-de375-601n21a-mosfet/index.md)
- [Vishay SS26 Surface Mount Schottky Barrier Rectifiers](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/vishay-ss26-surface-mount-shottky-barrier-rectifiers/index.md)
- [NEC 104PW161 Inverter Board](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/nec-104pw161-inverter-board/index.md)
- [Vishay CRCW1210-HP-e3 SM Resistor Failures](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/vishay-crcw1210-hp-e3-sm-resistor-failures/index.md)
- [MH Ballast Black Box PCB](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/mh-ballast-black-box-pcb/index.md)
- [PCB with Open in PTH](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/pcb-open-pth/index.md)
- [153D8496G1 Circuit Card Assembly](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/153d8496g1-circuit-card-assembly/index.md)
- [PTE43-31-C-RA Power Supplies](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/pte43-31-c-ra-power-supplies/index.md)
- [Flex Circuit Failure](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/flex-circuit-failure/index.md)
- [BGA Failure Analysis on Static Transfer Switch](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/bga-failure/index.md)
- [Capacitor Terminal Crack](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/capacitor-terminal-crack/index.md)
- [PCB Failure Analysis](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/pcb-failure-analysis/index.md)
- [BGA Voiding](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/bga-voiding/index.md)
- [PCB Overheating Due to Design Flaw](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/pcb-overheating-due-to-design-flaw/index.md)
- [Fire on Multilayer PCB](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/fire-on-multilayer-pcb/index.md)
- [Environmental Contamination of PCBs](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/environmental-contamination-of-pcbs/index.md)
- [Manufacturing Failure](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/manufacturing-failure/index.md)
- [Process Contamination](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/process-contamination/index.md)
- [Printed Circuit Board Flexing During Depanelization](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/printed-circuit-board-flexing-during-depanelization/index.md)
- [Solder Joint Strain Failures](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/solder-joint-strain-failures/index.md)
- [Premature Discharge of Ansul IQ-396X Fire Circuitry](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/premature-discharge-of-fire-control-circuitry/index.md)
- [Tin Whisker Growth in Solder Mask](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/tin-whisker-growth-in-solder-mask/index.md)