-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueThe Growing Industry
In this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we talk with leading economic experts, advocacy specialists in Washington, D.C., and PCB company leadership to get a well-rounded picture of what’s happening in the industry today. Don’t miss it.
The Sustainability Issue
Sustainability is one of the most widely used terms in business today, especially for electronics and manufacturing but what does it mean to you? We explore the environmental, business, and economic impacts.
The Fabricator’s Guide to IPC APEX EXPO
This issue previews many of the important events taking place at this year's show and highlights some changes and opportunities. So, buckle up. We are counting down to IPC APEX EXPO 2024.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
High-Throw DC Acid Copper Formulation for Vertical Continuous Electroplating Processes
September 5, 2017 | Saminda Dharmarathna, et al.Estimated reading time: 1 minute
Abstract
The electronics industry has grown immensely over the last few decades owing to the rapid growth of consumer electronics in the modern world. New formulations are essential to fit the needs of manufacturing printed circuit boards and semiconductors. Copper electrolytes for high throwing power applications with high thermal reliability and high throughput are becoming extremely important for manufacturing high aspect ratio circuit boards.
Here we discuss innovative DC copper metallization formulations for hoist lines and vertical continuous plating (VCP) applications with high thermal reliability and throughput for high aspect ratio PCB manufacturing. The formula has a wide range of operation for current density. Most importantly, plating at high current density using this DC high-throw acid copper process offers high throughput, excellent thermal reliability, and improved properties for present-day PCB manufacturing. The operating CD range is 10–30 ASF where micro distribution of ≥ 85% for AR 8:1 is achievable. This formulation offers bright ductile deposits where plating parameters are optimized for improved micro-distribution and the properties of the plated copper deposit such as tensile strength and elongation. The thermal reliability and properties of the deposits were examined at different bath ages. Measured properties are: Elongation ≥ 18% and tensile strength ≥ 40,000 psi. All the additives can be easily controlled by cyclic voltammetry stripping (CVS) analysis.
Introduction
Copper has a high electrical conductivity and is relatively inexpensive compared to other high conductive metals such as silver. Therefore, the use of copper in the mass production of PCBs and semiconductors grew exponentially in the last few decades[1]. With today’s complex circuit board designs an even deposition with specific physical properties is necessary to meet the standards. Especially with high aspect ratios, through-hole plating to obtain desired plating distribution is much more challenging. During the quality control inspection, a board can be rejected if there is insufficient copper on the center walls of the through-holes. Moreover, plated copper should meet the minimum requirements of physical properties such as tensile strength and elongation (T&E) to withstand the high temperature applications[2].
To read the full version of this article which appeared in the August 2017 issue of The PCB Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
The Chemical Connection: Reducing Etch System Water Usage, Part 2
05/02/2024 | Don Ball -- Column: The Chemical ConnectionIn my last column, I reviewed some relatively simple ways to reduce water usage in existing etch systems: cutting down cooling coil water flow, adding chillers to replace plant water for cooling, lowering flow rate nozzles for rinses, etc. This month, I’ll continue with more ways to control water usage in your etcher. Most of these are not easily retrofittable to existing equipment but should be given serious consideration when new equipment is contemplated. With the right combination of add-ons, it is possible to bring the amount of water used in an etch system to almost zero.
Designer’s Notebook: What Designers Need to Know About Manufacturing, Part 2
04/24/2024 | Vern Solberg -- Column: Designer's NotebookThe printed circuit board (PCB) is the primary base element for providing the interconnect platform for mounting and electrically joining electronic components. When assessing PCB design complexity, first consider the component area and board area ratio. If the surface area for the component interface is restricted, it may justify adopting multilayer or multilayer sequential buildup (SBU) PCB fabrication to enable a more efficient sub-surface circuit interconnect.
Insulectro’s 'Storekeepers' Extend Their Welcome to Technology Village at IPC APEX EXPO
04/03/2024 | InsulectroInsulectro, the largest distributor of materials for use in the manufacture of PCBs and printed electronics, welcomes attendees to its TECHNOLOGY VILLAGE during this year’s IPC APEX EXPO at the Anaheim Convention Center, April 9-11, 2024.
ENNOVI Introduces a New Flexible Circuit Production Process for Low Voltage Connectivity in EV Battery Cell Contacting Systems
04/03/2024 | PRNewswireENNOVI, a mobility electrification solutions partner, introduces a more advanced and sustainable way of producing flexible circuits for low voltage signals in electric vehicle (EV) battery cell contacting systems.
Heavy Copper PCBs: Bridging the Gap Between Design and Fabrication, Part 1
04/01/2024 | Yash Sutariya, Saturn Electronics ServicesThey call me Sparky. This is due to my talent for getting shocked by a variety of voltages and because I cannot seem to keep my hands out of power control cabinets. While I do not have the time to throw the knife switch to the off position, that doesn’t stop me from sticking screwdrivers into the fuse boxes. In all honesty, I’m lucky to be alive. Fortunately, I also have a talent for building high-voltage heavy copper circuit boards. Since this is where I spend most of my time, I can guide you through some potential design for manufacturability (DFM) hazards you may encounter with heavy copper design.