Second breakdown

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The second breakdown is an irreversible failure mode in power semiconductors.

The safe operating area (SOA) of a power transistor is a subset of the parameter combinations of collector emitter voltage and collector current, which the device can sustain without damage. In a double logarithmic diagram the borders of the SOA are straight lines:

  1. IC = ICmax — current limit
  2. VCE = VCEmax — voltage limit
  3. IC VCE = Pmax — dissipation limit, thermal breakdown
  4. IC VCEα = const — this is the limit given by the second breakdown

The second breakdown is the most complicated failure mechanism, it involves the building of local hotspots.

[edit] References

  • H. A. Schafft, J. C. French, Second Breakdown in Transistors, IRE Trans. Electron Devices ED-9, 129-136 (1962). online
  • Michaël Bairanzade, Understanding Power Transistors Breakdown Parameters, OnSemi application node AN1628/D online
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