What K has done is throw a powerful spotlight on an issue that many,
including me, have missed.  We have all heard about the importance of buildup
technologies as the next step in PCB technology.  All the action has been
organic, using laser-drilled microvias, usually elecroless copper, deposited
dielectrics, etc.  There are more than a dozen varieties, almost all
emanating from Japanese companies.  Examples are IBM Yasu's SLC, and
Matsushita's  ALIVH.  They are important for IC packages, especially high
lead count flip chip in package, and boards, at the high end.

 Well guess what, these organic buildups won't take the ramp to 260 C and
nobody has paid much attention. But the Japanese companies, Intel, and
probably Happy Holden, knew.

So the NCMS says lead free will cost "tens of billions of dollars".   They
aint kiddin.

(Oh, by the way, anyone want to contribute to this noble cause to eliminate
0.5% of the world's lead usage?)

Harvey Miller

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leadfee Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8d
To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Leadfree
To temporarily stop delivery of Leadree for vacation breaks send: SET Leadfree NOMAIL
Search previous postings at: www.ipc.org > On-Line Resources & Databases > E-mail Archives
Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional
information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------