Here's an article: http://www.taconic-add.com/pdf/technicalarticles--effectsofsurfacefinish .pdf Steve Gregory -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Paymon Sani Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 8:57 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [TN] Nickel barrier and RF applications Hello John, is it documented anywhere? Paymon -----Original Message----- From: John Burke [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: June 13, 2007 9:53 AM To: 'TechNet E-Mail Forum'; Paymon Sani Subject: RE: [TN] Plating The nickel in enig is not good for frequencies above 3 - 4 GHz John Burke (408) 515 4992 -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Paymon Sani Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 6:47 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] Plating Hello Inge, This is very interesting! I did not make the connection between the Nickel on the PCBs and the RF application. Are there any papers that explain the sensitivity of RF applications to the Nickel barrier in ENIG PCBs? We are having trouble with a 5.8 GHz RF product right now. The assembly meets the IPC-610D requirement. However, 25% of the products fail testing. We reflow the failed assemblies for the 2nd time and 50% of them pass testing! We do not know the RC of the failures. I was suspecting the flux to be the root cause but could it be the Nickel barrier? Cheers, Paymon -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hernefjord Ingemar Sent: June 13, 2007 2:33 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] Plating Paul, Lockheed Martin use a lot of platings. I'm not sure, but I have seen Boron as a barrier somewhere, just can't find it right now. Anyway, Lockheed as well as NASA use many special platings. Non-magnetic, guess you have a RF application that need low-loss lines. http://supplier.external.lmco.com/supplier/po_information/specpro2.htm I was myself looking for a non-magnetic finish once, and if I remember right, there is a difference between EN and EN. The acidous electroless nickel is not ferromagnetic, while alcaline electroless nickel is somewhat ferromagnetic. Borohydride electroless Nickel-Boron is probably non-magnetic too. However, you should contact your plating chemist to verify, it was many years since I mixed with this. (In earlier days, we had our own chemists, many of them had piles of knowhow, but then came the economist's era, and the chemists were kicked out) Inge -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Stolar, Paul W Sent: den 12 juni 2007 23:38 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [TN] Plating We are using nickel as a barrier metal on a PC board for the pads. Are there any other barrier metals we can use which are non-magnetic. Bare copper is not an option. 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