Hi Chris, In answer to a very similar question asked in the past Sir Günter wrote: I wouldn't know a standard test method but I am somewhat critical about shear testing of solder joints because of the following points: - The forces you measure depend very much on the speed of the deformation you apply. Maybe the folks I heard so far working with this test methods where not the best informed ones, but I never heard somebody mentioning this test parameter. - The same applies to the thickness of the solder layer you are testing, since the stress necessary to induce a certain deformation speed depends on the strain rate which is the speed of deformation divided by the layer thickness. The thickness of this layer varies between 2 and 30um. - The deformation speed also influences the evolution of damage in solder. This means, in my opinion, that you never now how big the load bearing area was at the moment of fracture. - The point where the force is applied influences your result. You will for sure induce not pure shear stress but also tensile stress to varying extends, depending on where on the component the force is applied. Because of these reasons, I believe, that shear testing of soldered joints of components only gives an extremely rough impression of the quality of a solder joint and is not a very suitable method to evaluate the quality of a solder production. Werner Engelmaier Engelmaier Associates, L.C. Electronic Packaging, Interconnection and Reliability Consulting 7 Jasmine Run Ormond Beach, FL 32174 USA Phone: 386-437-8747, Fax: 386-437-8737 E-mail: [log in to unmask], Website: www.engelmaier.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Technet 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 Technet To temporarily halt delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------