IEC 60068 Environmental Testing

IEC 60068 Introduction

Electronic equipment and mechanical equipment are subjected to inhospitable environmental conditions on a regular basis, including extreme temperatures, humidity, vibration, shock, dust, and corrosive atmospheres. Standardized environmental test methods defined in IEC 60068 are used to mimic these stresses in controlled environments to enable manufacturers to test the possible failure mechanisms before placing the product in the field. Contrary to performance specifications, IEC 60068 dwells on the severity of testing, sequence of exposure, and reproducibility, and hence is an essential tool of product qualification, reliability, and design validation in all industries.

IEC 60068 Test Method

In this type of test, the tests are chosen in the IEC 60068 series depending on the desired service environment of the test item. Individual methods are used to simulate certain stress conditions like dry heat, cold, damp heat, vibration, shock or a combination of these conditions. The experimental conditions include exposure of specimens to specified severity, duration, and sequence under the functional or non-functional conditions. Performance is measured in real time and also after exposure in order to detect degradation, malfunction, or physical injuries. 

IEC 60068 Equipment and Sample Preparation

IEC 60068 Results and Interpretation

The interpretation of results is based on the comparison of pre-test, during-test, and post-test conditions of the specimen. Acceptable performance implies that the test item can hold up to the environmental strain that is enforced without unacceptable deterioration. Any kind of failure, like cracking, corrosion, electrical failure, or failure of ability, is an indication of environmental susceptibility. Interpretation is also focused on stress response behaviour interpretation and not on pass-fail certification.

IEC 60068 Related Test Methods

IEC 60068 is regularly used in conjunction with military standards, e.g., MIL-STD-810 of defence equipment and IEC 60529 of ingress protection. The environmental test methods of ASTM could also be applied at the material level to supplement the system-level environmental testing.

IEC 60068 Applications in Industry 

The test method is commonly applied in electronics, automotive, aerospace, telecommunications, medical devices and in the production of industrial equipment. It aids the qualification of the product, design assurance, reliability testing, and adherence to the international regulatory and customer requirements.

IEC 60068 Materials Commonly Tested

Some typical examples of materials and products that are tested are electronic assemblies, printed circuit boards, sensors, connectors, enclosures, cables, mechanical parts, and packaged equipment. Structural and functional materials are both assessed.

IEC 60068 Common Challenges and Troubleshooting

Among the pitfalls, there are wrong choices of test severity, wrong specimen set-up, and impractical environment profiles. Troubleshooting means adjusting test conditions to the actual service conditions, proper instrumentation, and checking that the proper IEC 60068 method is being used.

IEC 60068 Safety and Best Practices

The training of personnel and calibrated equipment must be used to carry out environmental testing. Special precautions are also needed when testing in high temperatures, high levels of vibration, changes in pressure, or mechanical shock. Association of clear documentation, controlled sequencing, and repeatable procedures enhances the reliability of data and the validity of tests.

Importance of IEC 60068 Test Standard

IEC 60068 provides a common set of environmental testing standards worldwide, enabling comparable assessments of durability and reliability across industries. The standard helps to create strong product design, fewer field failures, and better lifecycle performance by being able to find the weaknesses of the environmental conditions at an early stage of product development and testing.