Circuitnet Logo
   We search for industry news, so you don't need to.
February 10, 2012
Circulation Over 51,000
Ask the Experts Index
You submit the questions, our Panel of Experts submit the answers.
Questions  I   Submit a Question  I   Experts Panel  I   Join the Panel
April 5, 2010

Cause of Pin Hole Rejects

We have been encountering high rejects for pin holes on a particular SMT component after lead-free reflow soldering. We only see this problem with a component from one specific manufacturer. We do not see this condition with the same component manufactured by other manufacturers.

What is the likely cause of the problem from this one manufacturer?

J. K.

Experts Comments

Check the solderability of that component. An x-ray at the pin hole location will reveal more (ie how deep is the hole and how big internally).

image
EH Lim
Managing Director, Asia Pacific
ECD
EH Lim has been in the PCB Assy industry since 1985, starting at Thomson/Singapore for 5 years before moving to Electrovert Asia Pacifc. Lim was Sales Director for Vitronics Soltec prior to joining ECD in 2007 as Managing Director for Asia Pacific.

My gut reaction is this is either some form of contamination of the contact pads or moisture. Examine the pads under a microscope and see if you can detect a contaminant.

Try a simple scrub with a pencil eraser and see if you still get the pin holes on that component. I would also try heating the board and component for an hour at say 120deg c to drive off any moisture. Add paste to the board and try a reflow.

Have you tried different reflow profiles? Have you tried a paste with a more active flux?

image
Steven Adamson
Market Specialist
Nordson ASYMTEK
Market Specialist for Nordson ASYMTEK. Mr. Adamson worked for Kodak, Motorola and Plessey, ICL in the UK with 5 US and 2 UK patents. He was awarded a HNC in electrical engineering and was 2008 President of IMAPS. Mr. Adamson was a respected mentor in the electronics industry. He passed away October, 2011. Learn about the Steve Adamson Memorial Annual Scholarship Fund.

Without knowing the chemistry, it's hard to be certain. However, pinholes are caused by outgassing of volatile materials. These are caused by low boiling components in the potting/casting compositions, or are generated by the chemistry of these recipes while they are curing.

Some curing reactions will "give off" low boiling by-products, while other chemistry types do not. If I had more information, we could nail it down. Also, with proper equipment this could be absolutely proven (for example trace analysis of the vapors while curing occurs).

More info about the process and materials = MUCH better answer.

Jim Williams
Chairman
Polyonics, Inc.
Jim Willimas is a PhD Chemist in Polymers and Materials Science. He specialize in printing, cleaning, inks, and coatings used in electronics manufacturng operations. Williams has more than 30 years experience.
Additional Comments
No additional comments have been submitted.

Submit a comment - Add to the discussion.

Your Name
Your Email
Company
Country
Comment
  All comments are reviewed prior to posting. We will only post a comment that includes a name and company. You will receive an email if your comments are posted.
 
Home  |  About Us  |  Advertising  |  Advertising Rates  |  Ask the Experts  |  Calendar  |  Contact Us  |  Free Subscription
Industry Forums  |  Exclusives  |  Letters  |  News  |  Press Releases  |  Viewpoint  |  White Papers

Search Category       Search Term   
To search a phrase, place it in quotes.
We search for industry news so you don't need to.

Circuitnet LLC, 22 Parkridge Road, Haverhill, MA 01835 USA
Copyright © 2012 Circuitnet.    All rights reserved.
Jeff Ferry, Publisher  | Ken Cavallaro, Business Manager

Semiconductor Packaging News - Semiconductor and advanced packaging news and information.