PCB Surface Finishes
   In A Lead-Free World
The Choices

   •   HASL - Hot Air Solder Level

   •   ENIG - Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold

   •   Immersion Tin

   •   Immersion Silver

   •   OSP - Organic Solderability Preservative

   •   Others - ENEPIG, Electroless Pd, Plasma
Decision Factors

    •   Cost Sensitivity
    •   Volume of Product
    •   SnPb, Pb-Free or Both
    •   Shock/Drop Testing
    •   Cosmetics
    •   Product Environment
    •   Fine Pitch Components (≤0.5mm Pitch)
    •   Design for Testability
    •   Shelf Life
Industry Trends
Cost Comparison




*NOTE: Prior to drastic gold price rise in 2011! - Now ~$7/panel in just metals!
HASL
(Hot Air Solder Level)




                   Horizontal



    Vertical
HASL Process




                                                           Cool Down

                                                                       Post Clean
    Pre-Clean

                Pre-Heat




                                               Air Knife
                                    Solder
                           Flux


                240°C              265°C      280°C
                                               42psi

    Variables: Solder Temp, Dip Time, Air Temp, Air Pressure, Knife Angles
HASL Standards

  •   IPC Standard - 100% Copper Coverage




  •   Optimum Thickness - 1.5um - 30.5um
      •   Based on Solder Paste Man. & Lessons Learned
HASL Issues
    •   Coplanarity
        •   HASL: 28um

        •   QFP: 101um

        •   Stencil: 100-127um

    •   Copper Dissolution (per Pass)
        •   SnPb HASL: 1.5um AVG

        •   Pb-Free HASL: 3.5um AVG

        •   PTH Barrel: 20um MIN

    •   Bare Board Cleanliness
    •   Process Control & Verification
HASL Summary

       Advantages       Disadvantages
   • Low Cost         • Coplanarity
   • Solder Wetting   • Thermal Shock
   • Re-Workable      • Copper Dissolution
   • Shelf Life       • Cleanliness
                      • Availability
                      • Process Control
ENIG
(Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold)
DI Rinse
                 Rinse
                            90°C




                   Au
                 Rinse
                 Rinse
                                   ~One Hour Total Process Time

                 Nickel
                            90°C




                 Nickel
                 Rinse
                 Rinse
               Acid Dip
                 Rinse
                 Rinse
ENIG Process



               Activator
                Pre-Dip
                 Rinse
                 Rinse
               Micro-Etch
                 Rinse
                 Rinse




                            50°C
                Cleaner
ENIG Process

   Au

   Ni
   Pd
   Cu
ENIG Standards
    •   IPC-4552
ENIG Issues

   •   Skip Plating
       •   Tin Residues

       •   Broken Soldermask Tent

   •   Nickel Foot
       •   Under-etching

       •   Palladium Issues

   •   Brittle IMC
       •   SnNi vs. NiSnCu
ENIG Issues (con’t)

   •   Black Pad
       •   Nickel Hypercorrosion

       •   Poor Mechanical Bond




   •   Gold Porosity
       •   Exposure to N2O
ENIG Summary

      Advantages      Disadvantages
   • Planarity      • Expensive
   • Shelf Life     • Black Pad
   • Good for PTH   • Process Control
                    • Damage by ET
                    • Signal Loss (RF)
ImSn
(Immersion Tin)
Dry
                DI Rinse
                                   ~30 Minutes Total Process Time

                 Rinse
                 Rinse
                            65°C
                 ImSn
                Pre-Tin
ImSn Process


                 Rinse
               Micro-Etch
                 Rinse
                Cleaner
ImSn Standards
    •   IPC-4554
ImSn Issues

   •   Tin Whiskers
       •   Inhibitors (Ag)



   •   IMC Aging
ImSn Summary

      Advantages     Disadvantages
   • Planarity     • Tin Whiskers
   • Re-workable   • Corrosion
                   • Shelf Life
                   • Non Multiple Reflows
                   • Carcinogen (Thiourea)
                   • Availability
ImAg
(Immersion Silver)
Dry
                DI Rinse
                                   ~30 Minutes Total Process Time

                 Rinse
                 Rinse
                            55°C
                 ImAg
               Pre-Silver
ImAg Process


                 Rinse
               Micro-Etch
                 Rinse
                Cleaner
ImAg Standards
    •   IPC-4553
ImAg Issues

   •   Silver Dendrites
       •   Inhibitors (Organic)




   •   Creep Corrosion
       •   Sulfides & Chlorides
ImAg Issues

   •   Microvoiding
       •   Ag Plates Void
       •   Galvanic Cave


   •   Soldermask Interface Etching
       •   Poor LPI Adhesion
       •   Galvanic Corrosion
ImAg Summary

      Advantages     Disadvantages
   • Planarity     • Silver Dendrites
   • Re-workable   • Corrosion
                   • Tarnishing
                   • Shelf Life
                   • Handling Issues
OSP
(Organic Solderability Preservative)
Dry
               DI Rinse
                                  ~15 Minutes Total Process Time
              Warm Rinse
                           35°C
                 OSP
                Rinse
OSP Process


              Micro-Etch
                Rinse
               Cleaner
What is OSP?

  •   Benzotriazole
  •   Benzimidazole
  •   Phenylimidazole
OSP Standards

    •   IPC-4555 - Announced in 2008
    •   2011: IPC Announces “No Standard”
        •   Too Many Variations Based on Chemistry

    •   Chairman of IPC Committee
        •   Round Robin Testing Underway

        •   Suppliers Not Ready to Release Thickness Data

    •   Will Require Internal Standards
        •   Lessons Learned From Companies Using OSP

        •   J-STD-003A - Solderability Tests
OSP Issues

    •   Poor Solder Wetting
        •   No Clean Fluxes (Ask!)

        •   1:1 Solder Stencil

    •   Exposed Copper
        •   Cupric Oxide

        •   Statue of Liberty (1886)

    •   ICT First Pass Yields
        •   Soldering Increases Yield

        •   Thinner Coatings
OSP Summary

      Advantages           Disadvantages
   • Planarity           • Shelf Life
   • Re-workable         • ICT Yields
   • Lowest Cost         • Handling Issues
   • Simple Process
   • No Thermal Stress
Others



     ENEPIG                       Plasma




     Palladium Over Bare Copper
ENEPIG

  •   The “Universal Finish”
  •   Wire-bondable
  •   Palladium Barrier
      •   Black Pad
      •   Nickel Diffusion In Gold

  •   Highest Cost
      •   ENIG + Palladium
Plasma

    •   Cleaning & Application - 1 Step
    •   Outlasts Noble Metals
    •   Re-workable
    •   Excellent Solderability
    •   Wire-bondable
    •   Less than Noble Metals
    •   Lot Limitations
    •   Poor Availability
Electroless Pd

   •   15-Minute Process
   •   Electroless Deposition
       •   25.4 Angstroms

   •   Cheaper than ENIG
   •   No Black Pad
   •   Extensive Shelf Life
   •   Poor Availability
Evolving Market
No Clear Winner!
Testing

   •   Solderability Testing
       •   ENIG, ImSn, ImAg, OSP - All OK

   •   Reliability Testing
       •   ENIG, ImSn, ImAg, OSP - All OK

   •   ImAg - Corrosive Gas Issues
   •   ImSn - Losing Favor
   •   ENIG - 10-30% Cost-up
   •   OSP - Best “Compromise”
Quantify OSP

    •   For example: EAU $40M PCB’s
        •   Assuming 1.0x HASL Cost Factor
        •   OSP at 0.7x is a $12M Savings!

    •   ROI as a System Price
        •   Not “Plug-and-Play”
        •   Choose Best Compromise
        •   Ensure <$12M Annual

    •   Market Trend vs. Availability vs. Cost
Next Steps

   •   Single Finish = Less Variation in EA
       •   Solder Profiles
       •   Solder Stencil Geometries
       •   Solder Paste Recipes
   •   Evaluate OSP ICT Yield Concerns
       •   OSP-Specific Test Probes
       •   Reduced Thickness OSP (1500-2000Å)
       •   Run-At-Rate - Low Risk Volunteers ...
PCB Surface Finishes

PCB Surface Finishes

  • 1.
    PCB Surface Finishes In A Lead-Free World
  • 2.
    The Choices • HASL - Hot Air Solder Level • ENIG - Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold • Immersion Tin • Immersion Silver • OSP - Organic Solderability Preservative • Others - ENEPIG, Electroless Pd, Plasma
  • 3.
    Decision Factors • Cost Sensitivity • Volume of Product • SnPb, Pb-Free or Both • Shock/Drop Testing • Cosmetics • Product Environment • Fine Pitch Components (≤0.5mm Pitch) • Design for Testability • Shelf Life
  • 4.
  • 5.
    Cost Comparison *NOTE: Priorto drastic gold price rise in 2011! - Now ~$7/panel in just metals!
  • 6.
    HASL (Hot Air SolderLevel) Horizontal Vertical
  • 7.
    HASL Process Cool Down Post Clean Pre-Clean Pre-Heat Air Knife Solder Flux 240°C 265°C 280°C 42psi Variables: Solder Temp, Dip Time, Air Temp, Air Pressure, Knife Angles
  • 8.
    HASL Standards • IPC Standard - 100% Copper Coverage • Optimum Thickness - 1.5um - 30.5um • Based on Solder Paste Man. & Lessons Learned
  • 9.
    HASL Issues • Coplanarity • HASL: 28um • QFP: 101um • Stencil: 100-127um • Copper Dissolution (per Pass) • SnPb HASL: 1.5um AVG • Pb-Free HASL: 3.5um AVG • PTH Barrel: 20um MIN • Bare Board Cleanliness • Process Control & Verification
  • 10.
    HASL Summary Advantages Disadvantages • Low Cost • Coplanarity • Solder Wetting • Thermal Shock • Re-Workable • Copper Dissolution • Shelf Life • Cleanliness • Availability • Process Control
  • 11.
  • 12.
    DI Rinse Rinse 90°C Au Rinse Rinse ~One Hour Total Process Time Nickel 90°C Nickel Rinse Rinse Acid Dip Rinse Rinse ENIG Process Activator Pre-Dip Rinse Rinse Micro-Etch Rinse Rinse 50°C Cleaner
  • 13.
    ENIG Process Au Ni Pd Cu
  • 14.
    ENIG Standards • IPC-4552
  • 15.
    ENIG Issues • Skip Plating • Tin Residues • Broken Soldermask Tent • Nickel Foot • Under-etching • Palladium Issues • Brittle IMC • SnNi vs. NiSnCu
  • 16.
    ENIG Issues (con’t) • Black Pad • Nickel Hypercorrosion • Poor Mechanical Bond • Gold Porosity • Exposure to N2O
  • 17.
    ENIG Summary Advantages Disadvantages • Planarity • Expensive • Shelf Life • Black Pad • Good for PTH • Process Control • Damage by ET • Signal Loss (RF)
  • 18.
  • 19.
    Dry DI Rinse ~30 Minutes Total Process Time Rinse Rinse 65°C ImSn Pre-Tin ImSn Process Rinse Micro-Etch Rinse Cleaner
  • 20.
    ImSn Standards • IPC-4554
  • 21.
    ImSn Issues • Tin Whiskers • Inhibitors (Ag) • IMC Aging
  • 22.
    ImSn Summary Advantages Disadvantages • Planarity • Tin Whiskers • Re-workable • Corrosion • Shelf Life • Non Multiple Reflows • Carcinogen (Thiourea) • Availability
  • 23.
  • 24.
    Dry DI Rinse ~30 Minutes Total Process Time Rinse Rinse 55°C ImAg Pre-Silver ImAg Process Rinse Micro-Etch Rinse Cleaner
  • 25.
    ImAg Standards • IPC-4553
  • 26.
    ImAg Issues • Silver Dendrites • Inhibitors (Organic) • Creep Corrosion • Sulfides & Chlorides
  • 27.
    ImAg Issues • Microvoiding • Ag Plates Void • Galvanic Cave • Soldermask Interface Etching • Poor LPI Adhesion • Galvanic Corrosion
  • 28.
    ImAg Summary Advantages Disadvantages • Planarity • Silver Dendrites • Re-workable • Corrosion • Tarnishing • Shelf Life • Handling Issues
  • 29.
  • 30.
    Dry DI Rinse ~15 Minutes Total Process Time Warm Rinse 35°C OSP Rinse OSP Process Micro-Etch Rinse Cleaner
  • 31.
    What is OSP? • Benzotriazole • Benzimidazole • Phenylimidazole
  • 32.
    OSP Standards • IPC-4555 - Announced in 2008 • 2011: IPC Announces “No Standard” • Too Many Variations Based on Chemistry • Chairman of IPC Committee • Round Robin Testing Underway • Suppliers Not Ready to Release Thickness Data • Will Require Internal Standards • Lessons Learned From Companies Using OSP • J-STD-003A - Solderability Tests
  • 33.
    OSP Issues • Poor Solder Wetting • No Clean Fluxes (Ask!) • 1:1 Solder Stencil • Exposed Copper • Cupric Oxide • Statue of Liberty (1886) • ICT First Pass Yields • Soldering Increases Yield • Thinner Coatings
  • 34.
    OSP Summary Advantages Disadvantages • Planarity • Shelf Life • Re-workable • ICT Yields • Lowest Cost • Handling Issues • Simple Process • No Thermal Stress
  • 35.
    Others ENEPIG Plasma Palladium Over Bare Copper
  • 36.
    ENEPIG • The “Universal Finish” • Wire-bondable • Palladium Barrier • Black Pad • Nickel Diffusion In Gold • Highest Cost • ENIG + Palladium
  • 37.
    Plasma • Cleaning & Application - 1 Step • Outlasts Noble Metals • Re-workable • Excellent Solderability • Wire-bondable • Less than Noble Metals • Lot Limitations • Poor Availability
  • 38.
    Electroless Pd • 15-Minute Process • Electroless Deposition • 25.4 Angstroms • Cheaper than ENIG • No Black Pad • Extensive Shelf Life • Poor Availability
  • 39.
  • 40.
  • 41.
    Testing • Solderability Testing • ENIG, ImSn, ImAg, OSP - All OK • Reliability Testing • ENIG, ImSn, ImAg, OSP - All OK • ImAg - Corrosive Gas Issues • ImSn - Losing Favor • ENIG - 10-30% Cost-up • OSP - Best “Compromise”
  • 42.
    Quantify OSP • For example: EAU $40M PCB’s • Assuming 1.0x HASL Cost Factor • OSP at 0.7x is a $12M Savings! • ROI as a System Price • Not “Plug-and-Play” • Choose Best Compromise • Ensure <$12M Annual • Market Trend vs. Availability vs. Cost
  • 43.
    Next Steps • Single Finish = Less Variation in EA • Solder Profiles • Solder Stencil Geometries • Solder Paste Recipes • Evaluate OSP ICT Yield Concerns • OSP-Specific Test Probes • Reduced Thickness OSP (1500-2000Å) • Run-At-Rate - Low Risk Volunteers ...