ASTM F1190-11
Standard Guide for Neutron Irradiation of Unbiased Electronic Components

Standard No.

ASTM F1190-11

Release Date

2011

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Status

Be replaced

Replace By

ASTM F1190-18

Latest

ASTM F1190-18

Scope

Semiconductor devices can be permanently damaged by reactor spectrum neutrons (1, 2) . The effect of such damage on the performance of an electronic component can be determined by measuring the component’s electrical characteristics before and after exposure to fast neutrons in the neutron fluence range of interest. The resulting data can be utilized in the design of electronic circuits that are tolerant of the degradation exhibited by that component.

This guide provides a method by which the exposure of silicon and gallium arsenide semiconductor devices to neutron irradiation may be performed in a manner that is repeatable and which will allow comparison to be made of data taken at different facilities.

For semiconductors other than silicon and gallium arsenide, applicable validated 1-MeV damage functions are not available in codified National standards. In the absence of a validated 1-MeV damage function, the non-ionizing energy loss (NIEL) or the displacement kerma, as a function incident neutron energy, normalized to the response in the 1 MeV energy region, may be used as an approximation. See Practice E722 for a description of the method used to determine the damage functions in Si and GaAs (3).

1.1 This guide strictly applies only to the exposure of unbiased silicon (Si) or gallium arsenide (GaAs) semiconductor components (integrated circuits, transistors, and diodes) to neutron radiation from a nuclear reactor source to determine the permanent damage in the components. Validated 1-MeV displacement damage functions codified in National Standards are not currently available for other semiconductor materials.

1.2 Elements of this guide, with the deviations noted, may also be applicable to the exposure of semiconductors comprised of other materials except that validated 1-MeV displacement damage functions codified in National standards are not currently available.

1.3 Only the conditions of exposure are addressed in this guide. The effects of radiation on the test sample should be determined using appropriate electrical test methods.

1.4 This guide addresses those issues and concerns pertaining to irradiations with reactor spectrum neutrons.

1.5 System and subsystem exposures and test methods are not included in this guide.

1.6 This guide is applicable to irradiations conducted with the reactor operating in either the pulsed or steady-state mode. The range of interest for neutron fluence in displacement damage semiconductor testing range from approximately 10⁹ to 10¹⁶ 1-MeV n/cm².

1.7 This guide does not address neutron-induced single or multiple neutron event effects or transient annealing.

1.8 This guide provides an alternative to Test Method 1017.3, Neutron Displacement Testing, a component of MIL-STD-883 and MIL-STD-750. The Department of Defense has restricted use of these MIL-STDs to programs existing in 1995 and earlier.

1.9 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.

ASTM F1190-11 Referenced Document

• ASTM E1249 Standard Practice for Minimizing Dosimetry Errors in Radiation Hardness Testing of Silicon Electronic Devices Using Co-60 Sources
• ASTM E1250 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
• ASTM E1854 Standard Practice for Ensuring Test Consistency in Neutron-Induced Displacement Damage of Electronic Parts
• ASTM E1855 Standard Test Method for Use of 2N2222A Silicon Bipolar Transistors as Neutron Spectrum Sensors and Displacement Damage Monitors
• ASTM E2450 Standard Practice for Application of CaF2(Mn) Thermoluminescence Dosimeters in Mixed Neutron-Photon Environments
• ASTM E264 Standard Test Method for Measuring Fast-Neutron Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Nickel
• ASTM E265 Standard Test Method for Measuring Reaction Rates and Fast-Neutron Fluences by Radioactivation of Sulfur-32
• ASTM E668 Standard Practice for Application of Thermoluminescence-Dosimetry (TLD) Systems for Determining Absorbed Dose in Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronic Devices
• ASTM E720 Standard Guide for Selection and Use of Neutron-Activation Foils for Determining Neutron Spectra Employed in Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronics
• ASTM E721 Standard Guide for Determining Neutron Energy Spectra from Neutron Sensors for Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronics
• ASTM E722 Standard Practice for Characterizing Neutron Energy Fluence Spectra in Terms of an Equivalent Monoenergetic Neutron Fluence for Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronics
• ASTM F1892 Standard Guide for Ionizing Radiation (Total Dose) Effects Testing of Semiconductor Devices
• ASTM F980 Guide for The Measurement of Rapid Annealing of Neutron-Induced Displacement Damage in Silicon Semiconductor Devices

ASTM F1190-11 history

• 2018 ASTM F1190-18 Standard Guide for Neutron Irradiation of Unbiased Electronic Components
• 2011 ASTM F1190-11 Standard Guide for Neutron Irradiation of Unbiased Electronic Components
• 1999 ASTM F1190-99(2005) Standard Guide for Neutron Irradiation of Unbiased Electronic Components
• 1999 ASTM F1190-99 Standard Guide for Neutron Irradiation of Unbiased Electronic Components
• 1993 ASTM F1190-93 Standard Guide for Neutron Irradiation of Unbiased Electronic Components