The electronics industry is entering a new phase of rapid expansion. From consumer devices and electric vehicles to smart manufacturing systems, demand is growing for high-performance components that are smaller, lighter, and more reliable.

As factories embrace automation and next-generation technologies, material selection and process reliability have become critical drivers of innovation and competitiveness. With this shift, manufacturers face increasing pressure to ensure materials perform consistently under thermal, mechanical, and environmental stress.

The ability to characterize material behavior with precision is no longer a lab exercise. It’s a strategic necessity that shapes product success in the real world.

How Advanced Material Testing Supports Growth in Electronics

Across the value chain, from R&D to production, manufacturers are exploring new ways to improve yield, performance, and speed to market. Key to this transformation is a deeper understanding of how materials behave under various conditions. Here are some common applications where advanced testing makes a difference.

1. Ensuring surface readiness for bonding and coating. Surface quality has a direct impact on coating uniformity, adhesion, and overall device reliability. In microelectronics and printed circuit boards, for example, even minute contaminants can disrupt functionality. Surface characterization tools such as optical tensiometers allow teams to monitor and optimize cleanliness throughout the process.

2. Tuning material formulations for reliable flow and application. Manufacturing with solder pastes, conductive adhesives, and thermal greases requires a fine balance between viscosity, flow behavior, and stability. Rheological testing provides insights into how these materials behave under stress or temperature changes, helping teams fine-tune formulations and improve printability or dispensing accuracy.

3. Designing for thermal stability and durability. Components in high-performance electronics are routinely exposed to heat cycles. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) provide critical thermal data that support better decisions in material selection and help predict how components will behave in the field.

4. Understanding mechanical performance for flexible or load-bearing components. As electronics become lighter and more adaptable, mechanical performance becomes more important. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) helps evaluate a material’s stiffness, elasticity, and damping behavior across temperature ranges, which is especially useful for flexible electronics or wearable devices.

5. Monitoring thin films and surface interactions in real-time. In processes like chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) or sensor development, real-time monitoring of surface interactions is crucial. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) technology enables researchers to measure nanoscale mass changes and interaction dynamics, supporting the development of reliable coatings and surface treatments.

Rethinking Quality and Efficiency Through Data

As the industry matures, there is a growing recognition that quality cannot be inspected at the end of the line. It must be engineered from the beginning. This is where data-driven testing plays a pivotal role.

By embedding advanced material characterization into R&D workflows and production environments, companies are achieving:

• Shorter development cycles for new materials and formulations
• Better alignment between lab testing and real-world conditions
• More consistent production outcomes and reduced material waste
• Faster response to failure modes and improved root cause analysis

Enabling This Shift with the Right Expertise and Tools

DKSH Technology supports electronics manufacturers by providing access to the technologies and expertise needed to enable these shifts. Our partners TA Instruments and Biolin Scientific are known for their reliable, high-precision testing systems that are widely adopted in electronics R&D and production quality assurance.

What sets these tools apart is not just their measurement accuracy, but their adaptability across a wide range of electronics applications, from surface science to thermal analysis, rheology, and mechanical testing.

As electronics become more integrated into daily life, the demands on manufacturers will only continue to grow. Staying competitive means rethinking how materials are evaluated, how decisions are made, and how quickly teams can adapt to new performance requirements.

Reach out to DKSH Technology to find out how we help the electronics industry build that future by connecting innovators with the insights, instrumentation, and support they need to lead with confidence.