In a message dated 5/22/2006 3:54:16 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
It will not make electronics more
reliable, evidence is that it will make them less so.
HI Jean-Paul,
I normally couch the topic of reliability with a softer terms and should
have followed "will" with "likely" per my custom. This is because, frankly, I
cannot comment with the same degree of absolute certainty that it seems many
proponents of lead-free solder appearently can, relative to the reliability of
lead-free solder joints. ;-)
I missed it in the case of this message, please forgive the oversight.
What I am referring to is reported findings on the matter, some,
unfortunately, are not public.
One is related to at least one OEM who is reportedly seeing a 3 to 4%
increase in returns for lead-free products vs historical product using traditional
solder. Perhaps it is just an aberration but when volumes of product are
being shipped, I would be concerned if it were my company.
The Swatch announcement was just a business decision data point to me by a
respected company. That said, I have also heard and read that whiskering was
compressive stress related.
National Semi also reported finding that post cycling, drop test results
were worse at an IEEE luncheon meeting a few months back.
I am aware also of another major OEM whose data for lead-free is very
sobering but again, I must wait for them to publish.
There are whispers of other problems but no hard data being openly
presented. I suspect that it could be related to saving face. Who knows?
There are still just too many variables to this overall problem in terms of
processing, finishes and alloy choices for my liking. For example, I am at a
session at the present moment where a company from Japan is reporting on a
study of voiding results using tin-zinc solder. What happened to SAC? It is
still just too crazy for me but then I am just simple country folk. ;-)
I cannot say for absolute certain that things will be all bad for lead-free
but based on all of the problems that have been discussed in this forum and
data presented over the last few years, I am not optimistic. Increasing
manufacgturing complexity is not the right direction for future success (IMHO)
Thanks for asking the question and keeping me honest. I owe you a beer for
that. :-)
Very best,
Joe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Leadfee Mail List provided as a 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/(start) delivery of Leadree for vacation breaks send: SET Leadfree NOMAIL/(MAIL)
Search previous postings at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives
Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
