MEPIC

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Vishay Sfernice

Revision: 14-Jan-15

Document Number: 53058

For technical questions, contact: sferthinfilm@vishay.com

THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. THE PRODUCTS DESCRIBED HEREIN AND THIS DOCUMENT

ARE SUBJECT TO SPECIFIC DISCLAIMERS, SET FORTH AT www.vishay.com/doc?91000

Massive Electro-Pyrotechnic Initiator Chip Resistor

The Massive Electro-Pyrotechnic Initiator Chips (MEPIC) are

resistors dedicated to pyrotechnic applications. The MEPIC

resistors are the Surface Mount Device (SMD) variants from

the established NiCr on FR type substrate technology from

Vishay Sfernice. The standard case geometry (SMD)

enables the implementation of assembly process commonly

used in the electronic component industry (pick and place,

reflow soldering on flat PCB used as header) providing high

productivity. The principle of MEPIC is to convert electrical

energy into heat energy in a precise electro-thermal profile

for the purpose of initiating a series of pyrotechnic events

in a controlled energetic reaction. In the mining industry

this effect is commonly used for the ignition of electronic

detonators (digital blasting). Other industries such as

firework (e-match manufacturing) and demolition (various

electric detonators) are also focused applications.

The MEPIC design has been developed specifically to offer

an alternative to the Bridge Wire (BW) technology, insuring

at least the same level of performances, while providing cost

efficient assembly process and initiator design alternatives.

FEATURES

• Surface Mount Design for standard assembly

ocess

• SMD version only

• Active area designed upon performances

• Case size 0805

• Firing energy down to 1.5 mJ

• Firing time down to 250 μs

• Ohmic value: 1  to 8  ± 10 % (typical)

(1)

• Joule effect ignition

• Easy set up by design of firing levels

• Very predictable, reproducible and reliable behavior

• Compatibility with pyrotechnic element has to be tested in

real environment

• Material categorization: fo

r definitions of compliance

please see www.vishay.com/doc?99912

Notes

* This datasheet provides information about parts that are

RoHS-compliant and / or parts that are non-RoHS-compliant. For

example, parts with lead (Pb) terminations are not RoHS-compliant.

Please see the information / tables in this datasheet for details.

(1)

For ohmic value < 3



the tolerance will be discussed with Vishay

Sfernice



TECHNOLOGY

The MEPIC active area (heating zone) will be impregnated by the user with a primary pyrotechnic material (usually wet primer

followed by drying) in such way to ensure an intimate contact for an optimum heat transfer of thermal energy. The geometry of

the active area of the MEPIC, and both the primer chemistry and its impregna

tion method, will determine the global

performances. Note that the active area of MEPIC shall not be put in direct contact with explosive powder as grain size will not

ensure intimate contact and will induce non reproducible and non reliable performances.

The two main characteristics of a MEPIC resistor are their “All Fire” (AF) and “No Fire” (NF) performances:

- “All Fire” (AF) represents the command pulse where the major amount of the dissipated energy will be transferred to the primer

to generate the ignition. Customer will have to provide Vishay Sfernice with “All Fire” conditions, usually with capacitance

discharge parameters or with Minimum Current or Voltage and corresponding short pulse duration.

- “No Fire” (NF) represents the immunity of the resistor with primer to the environmental electro-magnetic pollution and electric

continuity test, where the major amount of the dissipated energy will be transferred to the substrate to ensure no ignition.

Customer will have to provide Vishay Sfernice with “No Fire” conditions, us

ually maximum current or voltage and

corresponding longest duration. In case of applicable capacitance discharge test the parameters shall also be provided.

ASSEMBLY PRECAUTIONS

In order to obtain reproducible ignition performances it is important that the assembly process fulfills the following criteria:

- Do not use iron soldering method to mount the MEPIC on its header because uncontrolled amount of solder could impact the

heat transfer (potential misfire or ignition delay) and local over heating may damage the MEPIC (deformation that may cause

active area cracks).

- Take specific precautions , such as no air bubble during preparation and application of primer, in order to ensure the intimate

contact of pyrotechnic primer and MEPIC active area (potential misfire).

- Take specific handling precaution in order not to damage MEPIC active area (ex: pickup head design for pick and place or

specific fixing tools in the entire assembly process.

- All along the assembly process, take specific care to extreme thermo-mechanic stress that could be applied to the MEPIC

(such as stress induced during over molding) because the active area of MEPIC is subjected to crack (and generate unstable

resistance value).

- The MEPIC reliability is only guaranteed for one single reflow profile.

- In case of necessity to dismantle a MEPIC, another MEPIC must be used (no rework is allowed).

- Pay specific attention to the cleaning process after reflow soldering in order not to damage the active area and to keep it clean

from various pollutions.

Available

VISHAY INTERTECHNOLOGY, INC.

MEPIC

IGNITORS

PRODUCT SHEET

www.vishay.com

VMN-PT0290-1511

2/2

THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. THE PRODUCTS DESCRIBED HEREIN AND

THIS DOCUMENT ARE SUBJECT TO SPECIFIC DISCLAIMERS, SET FORTH AT www.vishay.com/doc?91000

Revision: 14-Jan-15

Massive Electro-Pyrotechnic Ignitor Chip (MEPIC) Resistor