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Electronics Solderability Analysis & Testing Case Study from ITRI Innovation
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Transcript of Electronics Solderability Analysis & Testing Case Study from ITRI Innovation
RESOLUTION OF A SOLDERABILITY ISSUEHow a component finish on a critical component was modified to enable improved solderability and long term reliability
The Client
The client is a major supplier of electronic parts for the military sector.
The challenge
Certain critical components were detaching from the solder on a printed circuit board
The problem
Without the critical component, the circuit board would fail. Without the PCB, the entire module for this component of a military vehicle would be rendered ineffective
The Solution
ITRI Innovation performed a series of analyses to characterise the solderable finish of the coating. As the substrate of the component terminations were a brass alloy, the solderability issues were found to be due to zinc migration. The introduction of an extra interlay in the coating was suggested to restrict the migration of zinc in order to ensure that the solderability would not be affected.
The Outcome
With the introduction of the interlay in the termination finish, the solderability issues were eliminated overnight A series of quality checks were carried out to ensure that
the new finish was being consistently applied. The soldering performance of this new finish was then
assessed using the wetting balance method. Finally, the solder joints produced were evaluated by cross-
sectioning and microscopy to ensure they were of an acceptable standard.
The improved solderable finish, and solder joints, are now being used on live hardware with zero field returns to date.