Doug- I'm not sure if the posting below was solicited or not, but many of us sure do appreciate this type of informational posting, as the anxiety builds over losing the MIL-P-13949 security blanket. As I write this, I'm finally printing out the 150+ pages of IPC-4101, hoping to gain some familiarity with it before I'm compelled to use it. Regards, Michael Alderete > ---------- You wrote... > ------------------------------ > > Date: Fri, 18 Sep 1998 17:59:16 -0400 > From: Doug Sober <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: Cancellation of MIL-S-13949H > > isola USA > 100 Tillessen Blvd. > Ridgeway, SC 29130 > +1-803-337-4000 > +1-803-337-8821 fax > > 20 July 1998 > > > To: Isola USA Customers > > Subject: Conversion to IPC-4101 from MIL-S-13949H > > > As of 30 November 1998, MIL-S-13949H will be canceled by the Defense > Supply Center Columbus (DSCC). This means that all references to > MIL-S-13949 must be removed from labels, certificates of compliance, > part numbers and other pertinent drawings relative to base materials > and > printed boards. At that time isola USA will only issue certificates > of > compliance for IPC-4101 which was published December 1997 by the > IPC.=20 > Isola USA will not be able to certify any base materials to > MIL-S-13949H > after the 30th November date. > > Our understanding of the DSCC policy is the 30 November 1998 timeline > is > on a "point of sale" basis. Materials manufactured before this date > but > certified after 30 November will still only carry the IPC-4101 > certification. Materials shipped from distribution warehouses after > 30th November 1998 will have the MIL-S-13949H reference, the Cage Code > and the Qualification Reference Number (QRN) crossed off and IPC-4101 > inserted on certificates of compliance and master box labels. =20 > > From a customer viewpoint, the quality levels of base materials > shipped > will not be affected by this certification change since the > performance > requirements of IPC-4101 are equal to or more stringent than > MIL-S-13949H. Isola USA still plans to conduct what is the equivalent > of Group A, B and C inspection on laminates and prepregs as directed > by > IPC-4101 and our Quality Management Team (QMT). All new product > grades > not previously listed on a MIL-S-13949H Qualified Product List (QPL) > will be qualified at an independent test laboratory and the data > readily > available for review. > > I have attached a summary of some of the differences between the two > specifications as well as a template letter for you to use with your > customers. If you have any questions concerning IPC-4101, please call > me directly at 803-337-4203 or fax me your questions at 803-337-8821. > > > With kind regards, > > Douglas J. Sober > > Corporate Director of Quality > > > > > > SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN > MIL-S-13949H AND IPC-4101 > > > General Information Differences > > Prepregs and laminates are on the same slash sheet. > > Slash sheets are organized by "families" with open spaces for new > materials that fit the family concept. > > The entire specification is in metric with no English references. > > The latest test methods are attached to the document.=20 > > > Paragraph 1.2.2 > > Laminates can be ordered as a dielectric space (without copper) or as > an > overall thickness (including copper) foil. Currently laminates can > only > be ordered as a dielectric space. > > > Table 1 > > The copper foil table now includes type "R", reverse treated > electrodeposited for grade 1 and type "S" for reverse treated > electrodeposited for grade 3. > > > Paragraph 1.2.5 and 3.8.3.1.2 > > Surface Quality Class now includes a "D" designation which provides > the > most stringent surface quality call-out. No pits, dents or epoxy > spots > over 5 mils. MIL-S-13949H has "B" as the tightest class which allows > 1 > pit up to 15 mils. > > > Paragraph 1.2.7 > > Prepregs are ordered using 3 parameters, resin content, resin flow, > and > the "optional" parameter. Prepreg can be tested by new test methods > such as rheology, % Cure, or delta. > > > Paragraph 3.1.2 > > Quality Conformance Testing is conducted as determined by the > Manufacturers Quality System as outlined in IPC-PC-90. In the absence > of a Manufacturing Quality System, conformance testing is conducted at > the same frequency as MIL-S-13949H.=20 > > > Paragraph 3.1.5, and 3.3 > > Self declaration form IPC-LQP-1730 is a prerequisite to certifying to > IPC-4101. The document IPC-LQP-1730 will be published by the IPC at > the > same time as the IPC-4101 specification.=20 > > > Paragraph 3.1.7 and 3.4 > > Qualification testing must be conducted by the supplier at any > IPC-QL-653 approved laboratory. The qualification data must be > summarized and readily available for review. The qualification > testing > regime is the same as prescribed by MIL-S-13949H. > > > Paragraph 3.4.1 > > A thin laminates specimen 10 mils or less qualifies all thin laminates > (30 mils and less). A thick laminate specimen greater than 30 mils > qualifies all thick laminates. =20 > > > Paragraph 3.4.2 > > For a given slash sheet, the thinnest prepreg qualifies all the > thicker > prepregs. > > > Table 5 > > Table 5 now includes Delta Tg and Average X/Y CTE as optional tests. > > In the absence of a Manufacturers Quality System, the frequency of > testing is the same as MIL-S-13949H. > > The test method for flammability has been changed from the "MIL" > method > to the standard UL method 94. > > > Table 6 > > Electrical tests and some environmental tests are performed on > prepregs > after pressing into a thin laminate. > > Prepreg testing for flammability is only conducted as a thin laminate > specimen. > > > Paragraph 3.9.1.1 > > Peel Strength is called out as a single value for 35 micron foil. > Foil > weights greater than 35 micron must meet the required value for 35 > micron. Foils less than 35 micron may be plated up to 35 micron and > tested as is the current specified procedure in MIL-S-13949H. > > > Paragraph 3.9.1.2 > > Dimensional stability is now specified as a nominal value with a > tolerance range. The supplier must provide the nominal value for > dimensional stability for each construction. Currently the > MIL-S-13949H > specification uses zero as the nominal value. IPC-4101 will reward > consistency of dimensional movement. > > > Paragraph 3.9.2.2.6 > > Gel Time is an optional test. It can be replaced with other > characterization tests if desired such as rheological flow, Cure % or > Delta H. > =20 > > Paragraph 3.9.2.2.8 > > Volatile Content is an optional test. > > > Paragraph 3.10.2.3 > > Dicy Crystals is an optional test. > > > Paragraph 3.15 > > MSDS forms must be available for materials supplied under this > specification. > > > Paragraph 5.2 > > The supplier is responsible for establishing written guidelines for > their authorized distributors. =20 > > > > Template Letter > (To be used by the printed circuit shop to their customer) > > > > (Name of the contact at your Customer) > (Your Customer's name) > (Your Customer's business address) > > > Dear =85=85., > > As you may be aware, MIL-S-13949H and its associated Qualified Product > List (QPL) will be canceled as of 30 November 1998. The Defense > Supply > Center Columbus (DSCC) communicated the cancellation in a letter from > David M. Moore dated 11 June 1998. By definition from the personnel > at > DSCC, cancellation means that (your name) will not be able to purchase > laminates and prepregs certified to MIL-S-13949H any longer. Our > current suppliers of base materials have informed (your name) that > certificates of compliance and related paperwork will only reflect > IPC-4101, a base materials specification developed by industry experts > within the IPC and published in December 1997 after the cancellation > date. > > From our viewpoint, the quality levels of base materials received by > (your name) and shipped to (your Customer's name) will not be effected > by this certification change as the requirements of IPC-4101 are equal > to or more stringent than MIL-S-13949H. > > In preparation for this change, (your name) would like the purchasing > information and drawings of (your Customer's name) to now reflect > certification to IPC-4101 in place of MIL-S-13949H. At the very least > we request a letter from (your Customer's name) indicating that you > accept the IPC-4101 replacement of MIL-S-13949H for certification > purposes. > > The conversion to IPC-4101 is a few short months away. We need to > start > working together now to prevent confusion on 30 November 1998. > > Please contact me at your earliest convenience at (your telephone > number). > > > > Sincerely yours, > > =09 > (your name) > (your title) > > ################################################################ TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet ################################################################ Please visit IPC's web site (http://www.ipc.org) "On-Line Services" section for additional information. For technical support contact Hugo Scaramuzza at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.312 ################################################################