ASTM E1854-05 - 1.6.2005
 
1. Scope

1.1 This practice sets forth requirements to ensure consistency in neutron-induced displacement damage testing of silicon and gallium arsenide electronic piece parts. This requires controls on facility, dosimetry, tester, and communications processes that affect the accuracy and reproducibility of these tests. It provides background information on the technical basis for the requirements and additional recommendations on neutron testing. In addition to neutrons, reactors are used to provide gamma-ray pulses of intensities and durations that are not achievable elsewhere. This practice also provides background information and recommendations on gamma-ray testing of electronics using nuclear reactors.

1.2 Methods are presented for ensuring and validating consistency in neutron displacement damage testing of electronic parts such as integrated circuits, transistors, and diodes. The issues identified and the controls set forth in this practice address the characterization and suitability of the radiation environments. They generally apply to reactor and 14-MeV neutron sources when used for displacement damage testing, and apply to 252Cf testing when this source is used for this application. Facility and environment characteristics that introduce complications or problems are identified, and recommendations are offered as to how problems can be recognized and minimized or solved. This practice may be used by facility users, test personnel, facility operators, and independent process validators to determine the suitability of a specific environment within a facility and of the testing process as a whole, with the exception of the electrical measurements, which are addressed in other standards. Additional information on conducting irradiations can be found in Practices E 798 and F 1190. This practice also may be of use to test sponsors (that is, organizations that establish test specifications or otherwise have a vested interest in the performance of electronics in neutron environments).

1.3 Methods for evaluation and control of undesired contributors to damage are discussed in this practice, and references to relevant ASTM standards and technical reports are provided. Processes and methods used to arrive at the appropriate test environments and specification levels for electronics systems are beyond the scope of this practice; however, the process for determining the 1-MeV equivalent displacement specifications from operational environment neutron spectra should employ the methods and parameters described herein. Some important considerations are addressed in through (Nonmandatory information)..

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

 
2. Referenced Documents

E170-23

Standard Terminology Relating to Radiation Measurements and Dosimetry

E181-23

Standard Guide for Detector Calibration and Analysis of Radionuclides in Radiation Metrology for Reactor Dosimetry

E722-19

Standard Practice for Characterizing Neutron Fluence Spectra in Terms of an Equivalent Monoenergetic Neutron Fluence for Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronics

E798-16

Standard Practice for Conducting Irradiations at Accelerator-Based Neutron Sources

E844-18

Standard Guide for Sensor Set Design and Irradiation for Reactor Surveillance

E944-19

Standard Guide for Application of Neutron Spectrum Adjustment Methods in Reactor Surveillance

E1018-20e1

Standard Guide for Application of ASTM Evaluated Cross Section Data File (Includes all amendments and changes 7/2/2020).

E1249-15(2021)

Standard Practice for Minimizing Dosimetry Errors in Radiation Hardness Testing of Silicon Electronic Devices Using Co-60 Sources

E1250-15(2020)

Standard Test Method for Application of Ionization Chambers to Assess the Low Energy Gamma Component of Cobalt-60 Irradiators Used in Radiation-Hardness Testing of Silicon Electronic Devices

E1297-18

Standard Test Method for Measuring Fast-Neutron Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Niobium

F980-16(2024)

Standard Guide for Measurement of Rapid Annealing of Neutron-Induced Displacement Damage in Silicon Semiconductor Devices

F1190-18

Standard Guide for Neutron Irradiation of Unbiased Electronic Components

E1855-20

Standard Test Method for Use of 2N2222A Silicon Bipolar Transistors as Neutron Spectrum Sensors and Displacement Damage Monitors

E2005-21

Standard Guide for Benchmark Testing of Reactor Dosimetry in Standard and Reference Neutron Fields

E2450-23

Standard Practice for Application of CaF2(Mn) Thermoluminescence Dosimeters in Mixed Neutron-Photon Environments

E262-17

Standard Test Method for Determining Thermal Neutron Reaction Rates and Thermal Neutron Fluence Rates by Radioactivation Techniques

E263-18

Standard Test Method for Measuring Fast-Neutron Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Iron

E264-19

Standard Test Method for Measuring Fast-Neutron Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Nickel

E265-15(2020)

Standard Test Method for Measuring Reaction Rates and Fast-Neutron Fluences by Radioactivation of Sulfur-32

E393-19

Standard Test Method for Measuring Reaction Rates by Analysis of Barium-140 From Fission Dosimeters

E481-23

Standard Practice for Measuring Neutron Fluence Rates by Radioactivation of Cobalt and Silver

E261-16(2021)

Standard Practice for Determining Neutron Fluence, Fluence Rate, and Spectra by Radioactivation Techniques

E523-21e1

Standard Test Method for Measuring Fast-Neutron Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Copper (Includes all amendments and changes 5/3/2021).

E482-22

Standard Guide for Application of Neutron Transport Methods for Reactor Vessel Surveillance

E496-14(2022)

Standard Test Method for Measuring Neutron Fluence and Average Energy from 3H(d,n)4He Neutron Generators by Radioactivation Techniques

E526-22

Standard Test Method for Measuring Fast-Neutron Reaction Rates By Radioactivation of Titanium

E666-21

Standard Practice for Calculating Absorbed Dose From Gamma or X Radiation

E668-20

Standard Practice for Application of Thermoluminescence-Dosimetry (TLD) Systems for Determining Absorbed Dose in Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronic Devices

E704-19

Standard Test Method for Measuring Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Uranium-238

E705-18

Standard Test Method for Measuring Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Neptunium-237

E720-23

Standard Guide for Selection and Use of Neutron Sensors for Determining Neutron Spectra Employed in Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronics

E721-22

Standard Guide for Determining Neutron Energy Spectra from Neutron Sensors for Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronics