Thermal Aging

Thermal aging is performed to simulate the effects of being subject to high temperatures for extended periods of time.  This test is typically only performed on electrical equipment or mechanical equipment with soft parts.

The difficult part about thermal aging is that you must simulate the effects of one temperature over a very long time using a higher temperature for a much shorter time.  The time and temperature conversions are well known factors, but in order to perform the test properly, you must first analyze all of the parts and materials and determine the one that can withstand the lowest increased temperature.  Once the test temperature is selected, you determine the time necessary to simulate the aging of the remaining components.

We sometimes end up with an impossible situation where the high temperature limit of one component makes the testing time too long to be practical for another component.  When this occurs, our engineers determine the correct combination of components and materials that will allow the equipment to be qualified.