June 26, 2006 — WEST HAVEN, Conn. — The Enthone technical paper, “Root Cause Analysis and Elimination of Immersion Silver Plating Defects on PWBs through Process Optimization,” received a 2006 JPCA Show Award. The paper, featuring AlphaSTAR(r) immersion silver, was presented by Enthone’s joint venture partner, Meltex Inc., and prepared by Enthone Inc., a business of Cookson Electronics. JPCA paper presentations, which focused on new product introductions, and the awards ceremony were held during with the JPCA Show 2006, May 31 – June 2nd, Tokyo Japan.
The technical paper, authored by Enthone team members Jo Wynschenk, Business Development Manager, David Ormerod, Business Director – PWB Metallization, and Dr. Yung Herng Yau, Senior Research Scientist, details the results of a twelve-month survey conducted among some of the world’s leading users of immersion silver plating technology. The survey identifies six major technical reasons (i.e. “root causes”) for board failure or rejection, including: microvoids, galvanic attack, tarnishing, exposed copper, ionic contamination and poor solderability. The paper provides a root cause analysis and details preventative measures to minimize or eliminate each of the six failure modes, while introducing an Ideal Process for addressing all six failure modes, AlphaSTAR immersion silver.
The JPCA Show Awards were established by the JPCA to recognize outstanding products and technologies for the advancement and development of printed circuit board technology and the electronics industry. At this year’s show, a panel of judges that included industry experts in PWB fabrication, assembly, packaging and design reviewed forty-four of sixty-six papers that were presented during the show. Each paper was judged on the following merits: creativity and originality; future potential within industry; leading, advancement in technology; compatibility with existing industry needs; contributes to the creation or expansion of other industries and businesses. All papers submitted for judging concealed the name of the authors’ company or organization to ensure fairness and integrity of the awards.
Mr. Yasuto Motonaga, Country Manager – Enthone Japan, said:
“AlphaSTAR immersion silver represents a completely new technology platform in PWB final finishes. It is exciting to see the growing acceptance and preference of the process throughout Asia. For our paper to be recognized as a 2006 JPCA Show Award winner is truly an honor.”
To view and download the award winning paper, please visit http://www.enthone.com/docs/JPCA2006.pdf
About AlphaSTAR
AlphaSTAR immersion silver represents a completely new technology platform in PWB final finishes. The process meets the most complex lead-free assembly, end use performance and application requirements as mandated by the world’s leading OEMs, PWB assemblers and fabricators.
AlphaSTAR selectively deposits a high performance silver coating that delivers high first-pass yields and excellent lead-free solderability that results in exceptional reliability. The consistent, reproducible coating possesses superior tarnish resistance, low contact resistance and is extremely easy to use. AlphaSTAR products are RoHS and WEEE compliant, thus enabling OEM lead-free conversions.
About Enthone
Enthone Inc. is a business of Cookson Electronics. The company is a leading supplier of high performance specialty chemicals and coatings used in the electronics and surface finishing industries. Enthone manufactures, markets and distributes its functional, decorative and electronic processes that are used in printed wiring board, semiconductor, automotive, aerospace, jewelry, and plumbing applications. For further information, please visit http://www.enthone.com