Main Article: RELIABILITY UPDATE FOR SN100C - Part 4

Contact Info

Subscription Info

KESTER NOW RECOMMENDING SN100C TYPE ALLOY  FOR LEAD FREE WAVE SOLDERING

At Productronica 2005 last month, Kester Solder launched their SN100C “copy” being sold under the name “K100”. This indicates they have now realized that SN100C is the best option for lead free wave soldering. There is no reliability data available on K100, which contains less nickel than the SN100C specified amount. The table below highlights comparisons of SN100C to the competitor's attempted copies and SAC305.

RELIABILITY UPDATE FOR SN100C

This report is the fourth of a five part series highlighting the results of recent reliability testing comparing the Nihon Superior SN100C nickel stabilized tin/copper alloy to tin/lead and SAC alloys. The full report is available by contacting Jim Wertin at jwertin@fctassembly.com.

One of the primary concerns in the industry today is whether converting to a lead free process from tin/lead will have an impact on the reliability of the assembly. Much testing has been performed in the last 10 years on lead free joints in anticipation of the potential switch by the industry but there are still concerns about the applicability of the results. Most of the testing has been to procedures developed over time for tin/lead alloys and the issue is whether there will be the same correlation between test results and actual product life cycle of lead free products in the field. As reliability is a complex issue, and not just thermal cycling, a number of tests were performed to attempt to simulate the environment in use.

The testing included vibration, thermal shock, HALT testing, salt fog, temperature/humidity, thermal cycling at multiple ranges performed for the JG-PP Lead Free Solder Project, and hand solder repair with mixed alloys with cross sectioning and thermal cycling.

Thermal cycle results will be discussed in this report.

Two thermal cycle tests were performed in the JG-PP study (www.jgpp.com).

-20°C/+80°C Thermal Cycling
 The -20°C/+80°C thermal cycling was performed by Tom Woodrow at Boeing. After 6300 cycles, there has been no failure of the SN100C soldered PDIP's. The test will continue until 10,000 cycles are completed, which is estimated to be by April 2006.

The -55°C/+125°C thermal cycling
The -55°C/+125°C thermal cycling was performed by Dave Hillman at Rockwell Collins. After 4656 cycles, The SN100C manufactured boards are performing as well as both SN63 and SAC soldered boards as highlighted in the tables below:

THERMAL CYCLING RESULTS -55°C/+125 °C

Be sure to visit us at Apex 2006 for SN100C solder pot conversion specials .  We are located in Booth 1892. Nihon Superior is located in Booth 1487.

SN100C has been patented by Nihon Superior and is offered worldwide through licensed manufacturers including FCT Solder for North America. We offer SN100C for wave solder and lead tinning, reflow solder paste applications, and SN100CL for lead free hot air solder leveling (HASL) of P.C. Boards.

We will be including in future newsletters, many of the advantages our current customers have discovered in switching to SN100C as their lead free alloy of choice and we welcome your comments and questions. We look forward to working with you to make your transition to lead free as successful as possible. 

For more information about our products, please visit our web sites at www.finelinestencil.com for stencil products and www.fctassembly.com for solder products.

All files for stencils, templates and PCB carriers should be sent to sales@finelinestencil.com to assure immediate attention.

Think Green! Organizations and Companies that shift from paper-based flyers, postcards and direct mail pieces to web-based communications help reduce the number of trees that are cut down (as well as the quantity of junk mail that is instantly recycled or thrown away. More trees mean that the earth is able to convert CO2 (a product of greenhouse gasses) back into life-giving oxygen. And more trees mean more habitats for plants, animals and the creepy-crawly things of the world.

Subscription Info: If you do not wish to receive further notices from Fine Line Stencil or FCT Assembly please go to this page on our web site to unsubscribe: click here

This newsletter is powered by BracewellWebWorks.com