Depends on how close to black your brown pads are. If they're dark brown,
you have problems as have been discussed many times. This could be the
infamous "black pad" phenomonom not allowing any type solderability.

If you could attempt solder wetting one of them, you'll know. If no wetting
occurs, you have the plague with no possibility of achieving solder wetting
and the possibility other pads, not so discolored, also will cause problems.

The way I overcame this a couple of times when boards absolutely critical
was to have the supplier strip the gold/nickel and HASL the boards. Extreme
need promoted extreme measures but we were able to build the boards.

By the way, I have dark pads from most of our major suppliers at least once
pointing to the phosphorous in solution % problem being less than
controllable at seemingly random times.

Earl Moon
----- Original Message -----
From: Ken Patel <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, October 11, 1999 4:18 PM
Subject: [TN] Nickel-Gold plating defect...


> Guys,
> I have received a Nickel-Gold fab from my fabricator and found some
randomly
> located brown pads, missing shining gold finish.
>
> What kind of defect is this? Is it ok to proceed assembly with the this
kind
> of defect? Any reliability concerns?
>
> re,
> ken patel
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Ken Patel                       Phone:  (408) 490-6804
> 1708 McCarthy Blvd.             Fax:    (408) 490-6859
> Milpitas, CA 95035              Beeper: (888) 769-1808
>
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