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December 1997

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Date:
Mon, 8 Dec 1997 11:48:15 -0700
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I was told that use of OSP keeps ICT probes from penetrating the coating
to have a reliable contect for PCMCIA cards, which means OSP is not
suitable for PCMCIA cards. Is it true? Is Ni-Au the only option then for
flat pads?

Thanks,

Yuan

On Fri, 5 Dec 1997 [log in to unmask] wrote:

>      Matthew:
>
>      From my perspective, the question that needs to be addressed FIRST is
>      where in the process is the ENTEK applied to the board.
>
>      1) ENTEK BEFORE or AFTER Bare Board Test
>
>         By itself, ENTEK is an insulator. Therefore, if it is applied PRIOR
>         to bare board testing, the bare board test probes can create "false
>         opens" due to residue buildup on the tips of the probes.  This
>         might indicate that ENTEK AFTER bare board test would be better.
>
>         On the other hand, a mild microetch is used to prepare the surface
>         prior to ENTEK application. If the dip process is used and the
>         microetch is fresh (i.e. strong solution), excessive etching can
>         result.  This can result in circumferential barrel voids at the
>         knee of the holes, where the copper is the thinnest.  If ENTEK is
>         applied AFTER TEST, this type of defect will not be discovered
>         until the board has been populated with expensive components.
>
>         Some people subscribe to the policy "NO chemical operation shall be
>         performed AFTER bare board testing".  Each vendor's process and
>         controls must be evaluated to assess the likelihood for this type
>         of failure.
>
>      2) In-line vs. Batch
>
>         In my opinion, in-line would be better and more repeatable, if the
>         total volume of boards that the vendor processes warrant the
>         equipment expense.  Properly managed, the dip process will work.
>
>      3) "Spotted" Boards:
>
>         Another "problem" to look out for is moisture spotting during
>         shipment.  ENTEK uses a DI rinse in the process and, if vias are
>         small (0.013" dia.), moisture can be trapped inside the barrel of
>         those vias.  Placing the "drip-dried" board in a plastic bag for
>         shipment, can result in residual moisture STILL residing in the
>         bag.  Shipment of the boards to the final destination (shipping
>         vibration, change in temperature, etc.) causes the moisture to
>         migrate to the inside surface of the bag and, in turn, back onto
>         the board.  The thickness of the ENTEK on the board will be reduced
>         where there is intimate moisture contact. The appearance looks like
>         "water spots" on a drinking glass.  They COULD result in localized
>         ENTEK "voids" and potentially cause solderability problems, if the
>         boards are left on the shelf for an extended period of time.
>
>         One test for "dryness" of a board is a deceptably simple one:
>
>           a)  Take a piece of colored construction paper (or the cardboard
>           stiffener on the back of a pad of paper) that will darken when
>           exposed to water and place it on a flat surface (e.g. table).
>
>           b)  Take a "dry" board and firmly slap the face of the board onto
>           the cardboard.  If it shows dark spots on the cardboard when the
>           fab is removed, the fab is NOT dry and could caule spotting
>           during shipment.
>
>         My suggestion is to have the boards BAKED after ENTEK to eliminate
>         this potential problem.
>
>      I advocate the use of ENTEK for fine pitch QFP designs, because of the
>      resultant pad flatness, as compared with HASL.  However, it does have
>      some "side effects" to watch out for.  It is NOT the "panacea for all
>      ills", but it is better than some of the alternatives in certain
>      designs.
>
>      The above opinions are my own, etc.,etc., etc.
>
>      Good Luck!
>
>      Bill Fabry
>      Plantronics, Inc.
>      (408) 458-7555
>
>      e-mail:    [log in to unmask]
>
>
> ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
> Subject: [TN] entek plus process
> Author:  "TechNet Mail Forum." <[log in to unmask]> at INTERNET
> Date:    12/5/97 9:58 AM
>
>
> I am getting confusing responses from a board vendor that
> uses in-line process, and from a board vendor that uses
> dipping process to coat boards with Entek Plus.
>
> What are advantage/disavantage using either process?
>
> What are problem associated with boards that were
> fabricated using dipping process?
>
> Does in-line processing provide better consistent and
> controllable coating (typ: 0.35um) than dipping process?
>
> Is there any other coating thickness measurement technique
> used by board vendors other than the sampling method
> specified by Enthone using UV spectrophotometer?
>
> What are some of inspection method employed by board
> vendors to check boards are coompletely dry prior packaging
> and shipping?
>
> advance thanks
> regards
> Matthew
>
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