In the research and production process of electronic products, the most headache inducing issue may not be technical difficulties, but rather the "hidden arrows" from the supply chain - counterfeit and refurbished electronic components. These components are like hidden lesions in the body, which can cause unstable product performance and decreased yield, or even lead to the failure of the entire project and serious safety accidents. Facing the mixed supply of goods in the market, how to develop a pair of sharp eyes and ensure that the products used are original and genuine is a survival skill that every engineer and purchaser must master. Spruan will delve into the common pitfalls of counterfeit components and provide you with a practical and efficient identification method from multiple dimensions.
First move: Look at words and looks - find flaws in appearance details
Visual inspection is the most direct and rapid preliminary screening method. The appearance of original components reveals a "neat" industrial aesthetic. Firstly, observe the labeling and printing of the product itself. The silk screen of the original product is clear, uniform, and firm, with sharp edges of the font and logo, and will not appear blurry, yellowed, or easily wiped off by solvents. Refurbished parts often require re polishing the surface and reprinting, and their silk screen usually appears rough, uneven in color, or has a slight "wavy" texture. Secondly, carefully observe the casing and pins of the components. The pins of the brand new original product have a uniform and bright color, presenting a brand new metallic luster, and are arranged neatly without any bending or welding marks. Refurbished parts are difficult to achieve perfection, as their pins often show oxidation and darkening, or although they are later tinned, their luster is dazzling but uneven. Upon closer inspection, residual flux and slight scratches can even be found. For plastic packaging, the original parts have neat corners and uniform surface texture; However, refurbished parts may appear too shiny or have subtle wear patterns on the surface due to high-temperature baking or physical polishing.
Second trick: Tracing back to the source - interpreting the "ID card" of labels and packaging
Packaging and labeling are the "identity cards" for the circulation of electronic components, containing a large amount of traceable information. Products provided by legitimate authorized agents typically have high-quality packaging tubes, rolls, or trays, with clear printed labels that include key information such as product name, model, batch number, production date, and place of origin. You need to pay special attention to the logical relationship between "batch number" and "production date". For example, a product labeled with a recent production date, but with a batch number corresponding to a cycle from many years ago, is a huge danger signal. Many well-known manufacturers provide official websites or phone services to check the authenticity, and you can try to verify the information on the label. In addition, the packaging of refurbished or counterfeit parts is often relatively simple, and the labels may be printed on ordinary paper, with blurry information and even traces of replacement. If you receive the goods and find that the packaging is not tightly sealed, there are signs of secondary labeling, or the packaging of internal components does not match the information on the external packaging, you need to be extremely vigilant.
Third move: Exploring knowledge - using professional tools to gain insight into the inner world
When the appearance and packaging inspection cannot reach a conclusion, it is necessary to use some tools for deeper exploration. A very practical tool is a high magnification magnifying glass or digital microscope. Under a magnifying glass, many details that are difficult to detect with the naked eye will be exposed: the microscopic surface of the original chip has specific textures, while the refurbished and polished surface will appear too smooth, and even remnants of the old silk screen that was previously polished can be seen. Another effective method is the "acetic acid test". Dip a cotton swab in a small amount of anhydrous alcohol (non corrosive) and gently wipe the silk screen on the surface of the chip. The silk screen printing of the original product adopts a special process and is usually not erased; And many refurbished parts use ordinary ink for secondary printing, which is easily erased and blurred. For teams with conditions, X-ray testing can also be conducted. X-rays can penetrate the package without damage, revealing the wafer size, wire bonding, and packaging structure of the internal chips. By comparing with the X-ray images of the original genuine product, it is easy to detect the phenomenon of "overprinting" caused by internal structure shrinkage, missing leads, or chip replacement.
Fourth move: Verify the identity - make the final decision based on electrical performance
The most reliable method, whether it's a mule or a horse, is still to let the components run in real or simulated circuit environments. Firstly, some simple static tests can be conducted, such as measuring the impedance between pins. Comparing the test results with typical values in known genuine samples or data manuals often reveals anomalies. For example, chips that have been electrostatically broken down or used may have damaged their internal circuits, resulting in significant impedance deviations between certain pins. Secondly, and most importantly, it is to build a standard testing circuit to perform functional and parameter testing on the components. Observe whether its key performance indicators, such as power consumption, operating speed, simulation accuracy, output driving capability, etc., fully comply with the specifications in the data manual. Many refurbished parts, especially those removed from old boards, although functioning normally, have drifted or degraded performance parameters and are on the edge of specifications, making it difficult to operate stably in strict environments. This lack of performance is the ironclad proof of their true identity.
Fifth move: Be prepared - establish a firewall from the source of procurement
The most clever strategy is to take preventive measures and establish a strong firewall from the source of procurement. Price is often the biggest temptation and the biggest trap. When the price of a certain channel is far below the market average, the first question you need to ask is not "how much money can be saved", but "why is it so cheap"? It is highly likely that refurbished or counterfeit products are being cleared from the warehouse behind this. Therefore, always adhering to purchasing from the original factory or its authorized legitimate agent channels is the most fundamental way to avoid risks. Establishing and maintaining a rigorously audited list of qualified suppliers is far safer and more reliable than "Taobao" among thousands of traders. For key components in critical projects, even before placing an order, it is possible to consider requesting proof of delivery from the supplier to verify the purity of their source of goods.
Distinguishing the authenticity of electronic components is not just a series of isolated testing techniques, but should also become an awareness and process integrated into daily supply chain management. It requires us to maintain continuous vigilance and not take chances due to cost pressures. By combining appearance inspection, packaging traceability, tool testing, and performance testing into a standardized inbound inspection process, and steadfastly cooperating with reputable suppliers, we can maximize the survival space of counterfeit and inferior components, and create the most solid quality foundation for our products and projects. Remember, every strict inspection of component quality is a solemn commitment to future product reputation and user safety.