-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueThe Hole Truth: Via Integrity in an HDI World
From the drilled hole to registration across multiple sequential lamination cycles, to the quality of your copper plating, via reliability in an HDI world is becoming an ever-greater challenge. This month we look at “The Hole Truth,” from creating the “perfect” via to how you can assure via quality and reliability, the first time, every time.
In Pursuit of Perfection: Defect Reduction
For bare PCB board fabrication, defect reduction is a critical aspect of a company's bottom line profitability. In this issue, we examine how imaging, etching, and plating processes can provide information and insight into reducing defects and increasing yields.
Voices of the Industry
We take the pulse of the PCB industry by sharing insights from leading fabricators and suppliers in this month's issue. We've gathered their thoughts on the new U.S. administration, spending, the war in Ukraine, and their most pressing needs. It’s an eye-opening and enlightening look behind the curtain.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
RBP Chemical Technology Announces the Release of ONYX™ Direct Metallization System for PCBs
March 11, 2020 | RBP Chemical TechnologyEstimated reading time: 1 minute

RBP’s ONYX™ is a Direct Metallization System for high reliability and complex printed circuit boards.
The RBP ONYX™ Direct Metallization Process is an integrated system based on a highly conductive form of finely dispersed graphite. Extensively tested and validated, the ONYX™ Process has proven to be versatile and cost effective. Currently the customer base using ONYX™ processes flex, rigid-flex, HDI and high aspect ratio multilayer printed circuit boards with ease and cost effectiveness when compared to conventional electroless copper. The ONYX™ process easily surpasses industry reliability standards including IST (interconnection stress test) and ATC (accelerated thermal cycling).
ONYX™ Direct Metallization System Highlights
The ONYX™ Direct Metallization System is a versatile process and is used in horizontal conveyorized equipment or in vertical immersion mode. Fabricators are able to process a vast array of resin materials including PTFE, polyimide, BT, flex, and basically all epoxy-based resin systems on the market today.
This process is an alternative to electroless copper deposition and provides several significant benefits to the fabricator:
- Less expensive than conventional electroless copper
- Smaller equipment footprint compared to electroless copper
- Greatly reduced water consumption, 4?6 gallons/minute, compared to conventional electroless copper, 26?30 gallons per minute
- ONYX™ contains no chelator as opposed to electroless copper—simplifying waste treatment
About RBP
RBP Chemical Technology is a leading supplier of proprietary chemicals for printed circuit fabrication and semiconductor test applications. RBP’s chemical formulas are tailored to meet the precise needs and requirements for advanced circuit boards, primarily in aerospace, medical and military applications. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and expanding globally, RBP is certified to ISO 9001:2015 and is the Intelligent Choice for the electronics industry.
Suggested Items
Trouble in Your Tank: Can You Drill the Perfect Hole?
07/07/2025 | Michael Carano -- Column: Trouble in Your TankIn the movie “Friday Night Lights,” the head football coach (played by Billy Bob Thornton) addresses his high school football team on a hot day in August in West Texas. He asks his players one question: “Can you be perfect?” That is an interesting question, in football and the printed circuit board fabrication world, where being perfect is somewhat elusive. When it comes to mechanical drilling and via formation, can you drill the perfect hole time after time?
The Evolution of Picosecond Laser Drilling
06/19/2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineIs it hard to imagine a single laser pulse reduced not only from nanoseconds to picoseconds in its pulse duration, but even to femtoseconds? Well, buckle up because it seems we are there. In this interview, Dr. Stefan Rung, technical director of laser machines at Schmoll Maschinen GmbH, traces the technology trajectory of the laser drill from the CO2 laser to cutting-edge picosecond and hybrid laser drilling systems, highlighting the benefits and limitations of each method, and demonstrating how laser innovations are shaping the future of PCB fabrication.
Day 2: More Cutting-edge Insights at the EIPC Summer Conference
06/18/2025 | Pete Starkey, I-Connect007The European Institute for the PCB Community (EIPC) summer conference took place this year in Edinburgh, Scotland, June 3-4. This is the third of three articles on the conference. The other two cover Day 1’s sessions and the opening keynote speech. Below is a recap of the second day’s sessions.
Day 1: Cutting Edge Insights at the EIPC Summer Conference
06/17/2025 | Pete Starkey, I-Connect007The European Institute for the PCB Community (EIPC) Summer Conference took place this year in Edinburgh, Scotland, June 3-4. This is the second of three articles on the conference. The other two cover the keynote speeches and Day 2 of the technical conference. Below is a recap of the first day’s sessions.
Preventing Surface Prep Defects and Ensuring Reliability
06/10/2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineIn printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication, surface preparation is a critical process that ensures strong adhesion, reliable plating, and long-term product performance. Without proper surface treatment, manufacturers may encounter defects such as delamination, poor solder mask adhesion, and plating failures. This article examines key surface preparation techniques, common defects resulting from improper processes, and real-world case studies that illustrate best practices.