In its raw state, I think not. The solder will not wet to aluminum directly. If you plate the aluminum surface with silver you can solder it to the copper on the board using a hot plate in the lab. Be aware that the CTE of the two materials is different and will induce some stress to the materials over temp cycling. But I have seen it successfully used in microwave applications with Rogers ptfe copper clad materials and silver plated sheet aluminum carriers. It's done routinely. Bill Brooks - KG6VVP PCB Design Engineer, C.I.D.+, C.I.I. Tel: (760)597-1500 Ext 3772 Fax: (760)597-1510 Datron World Communications, Inc. _______________________________________ San Diego Chapter of the IPC Designers Council Communications Officer, Web Manager http://dcchapters.ipc.org/SanDiego/ http://pcbwizards.com -----Original Message----- From: Paul Truit [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 9:10 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [TN] Solder Aluminum to a copper FR4 PCB Can aluminum be soldered directly to an FR4 PCB using 63/37 solder paste or SN100C solder paste? Paul Truit Mfg. Eng. RBB Systems, Inc. 4265C E. Lincolnway Wooster, OH 44691 Ph. 330.567.2906 ext 514 Fax 330.263.5324 --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e 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 or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts 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 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e 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 or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts 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 -----------------------------------------------------