Services on Demand
Journal
Article
English (pdf)
Article in xml format
Article references
Automatic translation
Send this article by e-mailIndicators
Cited by SciELO 
Access statistics
Related links
Similars in
SciELO
Share
Permalink
Ciência & Tecnologia dos Materiais
Print version ISSN 0870-8312
Abstract
CARMO, Rolim do; PINTO, Margarida; COLACO, Rogério and ANDERSSON, Dag. Lead-free soldering processes in the electronic industry: industrial implementation at SMES. C.Tecn. Mat. [online]. 2007, vol.19, n.3-4, pp.15-29. ISSN 0870-8312.
Following the implementation of the new European environmental directives, Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), which involve the ban of lead from electronic and electrical products, this work presents process development work, production and reliability testing of real products from several electric and electronic assemblers using lead-free commercial solders that have been tested and monitored to ensure the reliability of the final products. The results were compared with the ones using tin/lead solders, in terms of performance and reliability of the joints obtained. This work aims to help the implementation of the lead-free solders in the soldering processes and supply the SMEs more information about real products and conditions that might be compared with theirs. The reliability tests and characterisation of the real products from several companies showed that the lead-free boards demonstrated a good performance under testing, being equivalent or better than the tin/lead ones. The defects or anomalies found in most of the joints (voiding and pad lifting) result from the manufacturing process. Most of the defects were found in through-hole devices and were due to component failures and not from the joint integrity. The degradation after the reliability tests of both types of solders is similar. The SMEs are engaged in taking this opportunity to reach a higher quality performance level in their processes. Some of the companies embraced this forced transition to upgrade and improve their process and facilities, bringing better capabilities and opportunities to their businesses. The objective of this work aims to be a tool of information to the SMEs of the electrical and electronic sector, in order to help them in the transition to lead-free soldering.
Keywords : Lead-free solder; Soldering; Electronics; Reliability; PCB; RoHS.
