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, founder and president of AERI (American Electronic Resource, Inc.). Founding member and former committee chair of the SAE AS6081 Standard created for the avoidance of counterfeit electronic components. Robb founded AERI in Costa Mesa, California, in 1994 as an independent distributor of hard-to-find, obsolete and allocated electronic components. AERI is AS9120B, ISO 9001:2015 and AS6081 certified, tests to AS6171 standards, and inspects every part in its in-house QC lab before it ships. Robb writes about electronic component shortages, sourcing strategy and counterfeit avoidance.
