Common Types of Refurbished IC Materials

As the scale of the integrated circuit industry matures and its applications become more widespread, an increasing number of new and scattered IC chips are emerging on the market.

Currently, there are many counterfeit and inferior products circulating in the electronic components market. Driven by profit, a small number of people are passing off substandard products as good or authentic, disrupting the fair market environment. This not only infringes on the intellectual property rights of the original manufacturers but also endangers the quality of end electronic products, seriously affecting the interests of various links in the Chinese electronics industry chain and bringing adverse effects to the healthy development of the industry.

There are many types of IC chips on the market, and it can be difficult to distinguish between different materials. Therefore, identification of counterfeit and refurbished ICs is very important.

Here are some common types of refurbished materials:

1. Salvaged parts

These are products that have already been used and are removed from recycled PCB boards. They are then refurbished through processes such as polishing, coating, retyping, re-tinning, and re-footing.

Characteristics: The model number is the same, and there are traces of polishing and re-coating on the surface of the product. Generally, the pins will be re-tinned or re-balled depending on the package.

Note: If they have been screened by functional testing, they can generally be used normally, but the defect rate may be higher, and the reliability is not as good. Some customers still buy them even though they know they are refurbished. For some discontinued items, there is no choice but to refurbish them.

2. Counterfeit products

Refurbished products that have been polished and coated, and labeled with a more expensive and scarce model number (B type) in order to profit from the price difference. These counterfeit products are very dangerous because some of their functions are not correct, and they cannot be used, and they are only packaged in the same way.

Note: There are also some packages that do not require polishing or coating. The silk screen (marking) can be directly washed off, and then labeled with a different model number. Generally, the grades are changed (such as changing commercial-grade to industrial-grade, or changing industrial-grade to automotive-grade or military-grade).

3. Excess inventory

Inventory that has been in storage for a long time, with an old model number, low price, and poor sales. After being polished and coated, it is retyped with a new year (the price of new year products is higher, and customers are more willing to accept them).

Note: There are traces of polishing and coating on the surface of the product, and the pins are generally not processed (unless the pins are oxidized or deformed). These types of products are generally usable, and the market has a saying "protect the original foot."

4. Re-tinning / re-balling

For some old or poorly stored items, if the pins are oxidized and affect their use, they can be re-tinned or re-balled, making the pins look more beautiful and easy to use.

Note: The surface of the product has not been treated, only the pins have traces of re-tinning or re-balling. If not handled properly, there may be residual solder on some pins, and although the function is generally normal, the reliability is not as good, and the risk of use is higher. Therefore, the market also has a saying "protect the original surface and original marking."

5. Lead to lead-free

This usually occurs in BGA packages, especially for old items. The leaded solder balls are replaced with lead-free solder balls, that is, they are re-balled.

Note: The silk screen format may be different from the new version, without environmental protection symbols,

6. Defective products from the original factory

After being tested, the original factory will eliminate some products that do not meet the parameters. Some factories will scrap these materials, while others will flow into the market through special channels. Since the batches are numerous and mixed, some people will re-grind, coat, label with a unified batch number, and repackage them for sale!

Note: The defect rate is relatively high, and there will be traces of re-grinding and coating on the surface of the product. The pins are generally untreated.

7. Original samples with leftover or multiple batches

Due to the numerous and mixed batches, some factories will re-grind and coat the samples themselves, label them with a unified batch number, package them into complete packages, and ship them out.

p/s:The function is functioning properly, but there are marks of re-polishing and coating on the surface of the component.