When is Hermetic Sealing Useful?

The only option in harsh operating conditions
Hermetic packaging of electronic components or systems is often a requirement when harsh or advanced operating conditions apply. Examples include automotive electronics that need to function even when exposed to high temperature variations and driving vibrations, safety-relevant nuclear power electronics that are exposed to harmful radiation yet must not fail in case of an accident, and medical device electronics that need to endure regular steam sterilization procedures for safe re-use.

Increasing system reliability and safety
Beyond challenging operating conditions, hermeticity can be beneficial in case of special longevity or efficiency requirements. This includes applications that cannot compromise on safety or reliablity (such as automotive airbags or defense electronics) or where maintenance, repairs, or exchange of an electrical system is impossible or would result in prohibitive costs – as is the case in many avionics, aerospace, and maritime applications.

Performance, efficiency, and design innovation
Airtight hermetic seals can also enable significant performance and efficiency improvements, as well as innovative designs. A truly air-, or water-tight housing is needed to enable long-term and consistently high-performance data transmission in opto-electronic data- and telecom applications.
Hermetic packaging may also be a cost-efficient alternative to non- or quasi-hermetic seals, as it can allow smaller, miniaturized, and simplified single-component designs, instead of larger, more complex multi-components systems. Hermetic seals can also be designed to cater to increased heat dissipation, high power/ voltage/ insulation, or high
frequency / RF optical data transmission requirements.

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