Inge, solder is ductile ("soft") but it's not a "plasticine" (and Pb-free particularly). So a crack (once been formed) doesn't become blunt and it grows. All you might need is a tiny stress concentrator to create one and the thickness of solder mask doesn't matter in that situation. Regards, Vladimir SENTEC 11 Canadian Road, Unit 7. Scarborough, ON M1R 5G1 Tel: (416) 899-1882 Fax: (905) 882-8812 www.sentec.ca -----Original Message----- From: Inge <[log in to unmask]> Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:43:22 To: <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: [TN] fractured SJs due to soldermask compression Richard, we have seen so many microcracks start at the edge of the defined soldermask, that we do only non-defined boards. One thing I don't understand: how can the small percentage of the thin soldermask cause damage to the much bigger area of the solder ball, especially when the solder is a little 'flexible' (I know W does not like the word)? It does not make sense to me. /Inge ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stadem, Richard D." <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 7:49 PM Subject: Re: [TN] fractured SJs due to soldermask compression > Werner, > What I am trying to say is that issues of ground plane configuration will > probably not lead to a reliability issue directly, unless they cause > issues during reflow of the BGA. But if the ground pour is done using > soldermask-defined pads, the soldermask-defined pads can lead to premature > failure of the SJ. My understanding (gained from a direct question I asked > you in your class) was that the soldermask can constrict the solder during > CTE expansion and contraction. Did I not understand you correctly? > > -----Original Message----- > From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Werner Engelmaier /* > Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 12:32 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: [TN] fractured SJs due to soldermask compression > > > Hi Chris, > First, never heard of "fractured SJs due to soldermask compression during > cyclic operation"—solder mask is much too soft and too thin; now, if you > talk encapsulants that is a different story. > Second, "all of the other issues pale in the face of fractured SJs due to > soldermask compression during cyclic operation"—even if it were an issue, > a failure is a failure is a failure—'nough said. > Werner > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Chris Ball <[log in to unmask]> > To: [log in to unmask] > Sent: Thu, Sep 17, 2009 1:07 pm > Subject: [TN] fractured SJs due to soldermask compression > > > > > > > > > > > Hello, > > Starting a new branch here. > > "All of the other issues pale in the face of fractured SJs due to > soldermask compression during cyclic operation." > > Is this concern specifically for BGAs, or the same for any soldermask > defined pad, even including selectively waved through-hole (PbFree)? > > Thanks, > -Chris > > > > > > > > This e-mail message is intended only for the use of the intended > recipient(s). > The information contained therein may be confidential or privileged, and > its > disclosure or reproduction is strictly prohibited. > If you are not the intended recipient, please return it immediately to its > sender at the above address and destroy it. > > --------------------------------------------------- > Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 > To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in > the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet > To temporarily20halt 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 15.0 > 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 15.0 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 -----------------------------------------------------