On Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:21:46 -0500, Jim Yanik
wrote:

Jeff Liebermann wrote in
:
Here's an example. My guess is about 15 years in the back of the
closet. I'll confess to having a roof leak about 10 years ago, which
may have aggravated the problem:
http://www.11junk.com/pics/drivel/slides/black-foam-rust.html

Note the big 24 pin chip in the center of the photo and the two 14 pin
DIPs to its left. Those were gold plated IC leads. So much for
corrosion proofing.

you need to use some silica gel packs to remove the moisture from the
containers.

Sure, but it's a bit late for these chips. I think they were in the
closet for at least 15 years. Any desiccant would have been saturated
with water after a few years unless sealed everything in an airtight
container. I could need to renew the silica gel by baking off the
moisture, but that would require I setup a proper maintenance
schedule. These daze, I just use storage tubes and use the black foam
only for short term storage.

Also, I use rice for desiccant in pill bottles, salt shakers, and
hygroscopic component containers. Not great, but good enough.



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# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
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