Patent ID: 7442552

Claim:
A method of testing a semiconductor packaging material containing a molding compound, said method comprising the steps of: providing N substantially identical samples such that N is a positive integer of at least 2, wherein each of the N samples comprises the semiconductor packaging material, wherein the semiconductor packaging material comprised by the N samples comprises one or more cured raw materials containing the molding compound, wherein T samples of the N samples are test samples, wherein C samples of the N samples are control samples, and wherein T and C are positive integers such that T+C=N; exposing during a time period τ the T test samples to a pressurized gas having a total pressure P TOT (t), said pressurized gas comprising oxygen gas, wherein for times t during 0≦t≦τ the oxygen gas has a partial pressure P(t) of at least P 1 and a temperature T(t) satisfying T G −ΔT 2 ≦T(t)≦T G −ΔT 1 such that 0<ΔT 1 ≦ΔT 2 for glass transition temperature T G of the molding compound, wherein during 0≦t≦τ the T test samples are exposed to moisture having a relative humidity H(t) such that H 1 ≦H(t)≦H 2 , wherein H 1 ≧0% and H 2 ≦100%, wherein τ is at least about 12 hours, wherein P 1 is about 15 psi, and wherein T G −ΔT 2 is at least about 20° C.; and exposing the C control samples during times t for a time period τ′ to a pressurized inert gas having a pressure P′(t) and a temperature of T′(t) at a relative humidity H′(t), wherein a common time interval exists for times t during which both the pressurized gas comprising oxygen and the pressurized inert gas are being exposed by the respective exposing steps, wherein during said common time interval: P′(t)≧P(t) or P′(t) does not substantially differ from P(t), T′(t)≧(T(t) or T′(t) does not substantially differ from T(t), and H′(t)≧H(t) or H′(t) does not substantially differ from H(t).