Analysis on Failure Mechanism of RT3 Electrical Connectors in Hot and Humid Marine Environments

LI Han; WEI Xiaoqin; XIE Changcheng; ZHAO Fangchao; TENG Junpeng; ZHANG Lunwu; CHEN Mingya; LI Jingyu; LUO Dan; REN Hongyu

doi:10.7643/issn.1672-9242.2026.03.013

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Equipment Environmental Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (3) : 120-127. DOI: 10.7643/issn.1672-9242.2026.03.013

Special Issue—Equipment Service Environment and Performance Testing

Analysis on Failure Mechanism of RT3 Electrical Connectors in Hot and Humid Marine Environments

LI Han, WEI Xiaoqin, XIE Changcheng, ZHAO Fangchao, TENG Junpeng, ZHANG Lunwu, CHEN Mingya, LI Jingyu, LUO Dan, REN Hongyu

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Abstract

The work aims to investigate the failure mechanism of RT3 electrical connectors in hot and humid marine environments, and to provide theoretical and experimental basis for the improvement of their environmental worthiness. According to military test standards, RT3 electrical connectors were subject to natural storage tests under the shed near the coast of Wanning Test Site. Key electrical performance parameters such as characteristic impedance, insertion loss, near-end crosstalk and far-end crosstalk were tested periodically by sampling. Combined with microscopic analysis methods such as scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), focused ion beam (FIB) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), the environmental damage evolution law and failure essence of electrical connectors were analyzed. When the electrical connector was naturally stored under the shed near the coast for 16 months, the test values of near-end crosstalk and far-end crosstalk exceeded the threshold of technical indicators. When stored for 35 months, all ports completely lost conductivity, and the electrical connector suffered overall failure. Microscopic analysis showed that the metal coating of the signal terminal had significant corrosion, and the corrosion products deposited and polluted on the terminal surface, which destroyed the normal electrical transmission characteristics of the electrical connector and eventually caused abnormal key performance parameters. In conclusion, the core failure reason of RT3 electrical connectors in hot and humid marine environments is the corrosion degradation of signal terminals. The adhesion and accumulation of corrosion products will seriously affect the signal transmission performance of electrical connections and eventually lead to device failure. The data and conclusions obtained in this study can provide important data support and theoretical reference for the environmental worthiness design and protection process optimization of electrical connectors in hot and humid marine environments.

Key words

electrical connectors / hot and humid marine environments / natural storage / failure mechanism / corrosion / environment worthiness

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LI Han, WEI Xiaoqin, XIE Changcheng, ZHAO Fangchao, TENG Junpeng, ZHANG Lunwu, CHEN Mingya, LI Jingyu, LUO Dan, REN Hongyu. Analysis on Failure Mechanism of RT3 Electrical Connectors in Hot and Humid Marine Environments[J]. Equipment Environmental Engineering. 2026, 23(3): 120-127 https://doi.org/10.7643/issn.1672-9242.2026.03.013

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