Deutsch: Anfälligkeit / Español: susceptibilidad / Português: suscetibilidade / Français: susceptibilité / Italiano: suscettibilità
Susceptibility refers to the tendency of a material, system, process, or component to respond negatively or be adversely affected by external influences. These influences can include electromagnetic fields, chemical agents, mechanical stress, temperature fluctuations, or microbiological contamination. The term is commonly used in areas such as electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), materials engineering, quality assurance, and pharmaceutical or food manufacturing.
Description
In industrial environments, susceptibility is a critical factor in ensuring product reliability, safety, and regulatory compliance. It describes the vulnerability of systems or materials when exposed to environmental or operational stressors. The specific type of susceptibility varies by industry: in electronics, it often means susceptibility to electromagnetic interference (EMI); in materials science, it could refer to corrosion, fatigue, or cracking.
In electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), susceptibility is measured to assess how likely a device is to malfunction when exposed to external electrical disturbances. Standards such as the IEC 61000 series and the EU EMC Directive (2014/30/EU) provide guidelines for testing and limits.
In materials engineering, susceptibility describes how metals or composites respond to factors like humidity, salt spray, or temperature extremes. This is especially relevant in industries like aerospace, marine construction, and chemical processing.
Susceptibility also plays a vital role in pharmaceutical manufacturing, where products are tested for microbial susceptibility—how prone they are to contamination or degradation under specific conditions. In food processing, packaging and preservation methods are designed to reduce susceptibility to spoilage or contamination.
Mechanical susceptibility—e.g. to vibrations, shocks, or thermal cycling—is a focus in transport industries such as automotive and aviation, where materials and components undergo rigorous testing.
Digital systems and sensors used in Industry 4.0 environments are increasingly subject to electromagnetic, thermal, and mechanical susceptibility, requiring complex design strategies and robust quality testing.
Special Applications
In nuclear and aerospace sectors, material susceptibility to radiation is tested to ensure long-term stability and functionality in high-exposure environments. Likewise, medical devices operating near imaging equipment (e.g. MRI scanners) must be tested for susceptibility to magnetic fields.
Application Areas
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Electronics / EMC: Evaluating devices for electromagnetic susceptibility to ensure safe operation near other electronic systems
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Materials Engineering: Assessing susceptibility to corrosion, oxidation, fatigue, or chemical degradation
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Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Testing of products and environments for microbial or thermal susceptibility
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Food Industry: Packaging and product preservation methods designed to reduce susceptibility to contamination or spoilage
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Aerospace and Automotive: Testing of mechanical susceptibility to vibration, pressure, or temperature variation
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Construction and Infrastructure: Analysing susceptibility of materials to environmental conditions such as freeze-thaw cycles, UV radiation, or seismic activity
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Telecommunications: Ensuring devices and cables are not susceptible to signal distortion or interference
Well-Known Examples
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At Rolls-Royce, jet engine components are tested for susceptibility to high-temperature fatigue and vibration stress.
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Siemens subjects electronic control systems to electromagnetic susceptibility tests under IEC 61000 standards.
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Nestlé evaluates packaging materials for susceptibility to UV exposure and humidity in global transport conditions.
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In BMW production, vehicle electronic control units are tested for susceptibility to electrical interference using ISO 11452 protocols.
Risks and Challenges
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Undetected susceptibility can lead to system failures, safety issues, or non-compliance with industry regulations.
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High electromagnetic susceptibility may cause malfunctions in sensitive electronic equipment.
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Corrosion susceptibility can reduce the lifetime and structural integrity of critical components.
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Thermal and mechanical susceptibility pose risks in dynamic environments such as engines or turbines.
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Microbial susceptibility is a major concern in sterile environments such as cleanrooms or pharmaceutical production.
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Complex environments make it difficult to simulate all relevant factors affecting susceptibility during product testing.
Examples of Sentences
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The device showed increased susceptibility to electromagnetic interference during field testing.
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This steel alloy was selected for its low corrosion susceptibility in marine conditions.
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Product failure was traced back to thermal susceptibility under prolonged exposure.
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The component passed all mechanical susceptibility tests for vibration resistance.
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High susceptibility to microbial growth requires improved sterilisation protocols.
Similar Terms
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Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC): The ability of equipment to function properly in its electromagnetic environment.
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Corrosion resistance: The ability of a material to withstand chemical or electrochemical degradation.
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Fatigue resistance: A material’s capacity to endure repeated mechanical stress without failure.
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Vulnerability: A broader term denoting exposure to various types of risk or failure.
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Environmental testing: The process of simulating environmental conditions to assess susceptibility.
Summary
Susceptibility defines how prone an industrial system or material is to interference or degradation from external factors. It is a key consideration in design, testing, and regulatory compliance across multiple industries and plays a vital role in ensuring the safety, durability, and functionality of industrial products and systems.
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