Reliability Data: Flammability

A primary industry-accepted test method for assessing flammability characteristics of plastic materials is the Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) specification UL 94: "The Standard for Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances". UL is an independent, not-for-profit product-safety testing and certification organization.

The UL 94 test method includes 12 flame classifications that can be assigned to materials depending on the material type and intended usage. The classifications appropriate to the semiconductor industry are the "V" series vertical burn tests, which require that materials self-extinguish within a specified amount of time.

Plastic encapsulating materials used in Texas Instruments semiconductor products meet the requirements of UL 94 flame classification V-0 unless stated otherwise on the product datasheet.