We check all plastic components with acetone to see how the surface reacts. Whenever we see color come off on to the cotton swab we know we have a remarked part. The plastic used to make electronic components is not affected by acetone, therefore no color will be on the swab after rubbing the part vigorously for a few seconds.
Robb Hammond is the founder and CEO of AERI, an independent electronic component distributor operating since 1994. He is a founding member and former committee chair of SAE AS6081, the counterfeit-avoidance standard for independent distributors adopted by the U.S. Department of Defense, and a recognized authority on counterfeit detection.
