White Papers

Indium Corporation conducts extensive research on the soldering fundamentals for Surface Mount Technology and other electronics applications.

Browse our library for abstracts of some of the most popular published articles that you may find useful in your efforts to improve your process results. All papers in our library are available for download.

Check the box next to each paper you want to download. You may download as many papers as you wish. After selecting papers and completing the contact information form on this page, the paper(s) will be e-mailed to you at the e-mail address you provide.

    Papers by Pamela Fiacco

  • Selection of Dip Transfer Fluxes and Solder Pastes for PoP Assembly

    by Dr. Yan Liu, Pamela Fiacco, Derrick Herron, Dr. Ning-Cheng Lee

    Consideration and selection of dip transfer fluxes and solder pastes for PoP assembly are described, based on process considerations. The crucial properties vital for successful dip transfer include homogeneity, open time on the flux/paste bed, volume and consistency of the dip transferred material, open time after the dip transfer before reflow, and solder joint formation. For each property, one or more practical, recommended test methods are described. Overall, this work should provide the assembly house with an easy way to select a flux or solder paste adequate for dip transfer of PoP assembly applications.

    PoP, package-on-package, flux, solder paste, dip transfer, soldering, SMT

    Posted on 24 Jan 2011

  • Testing and Prevention of Head-In-Pillow

    by Dr. Ning-Cheng Lee, Dr. Yan Liu, Pamela Fiacco

    Head-in-pillow (HIP) is ailing the electronic industry when assembling BGAs or CSPs onto PCBs. It is caused by warpage of components or boards at reflow process, and is aggravated by oxidation. Methods for assessing the potential for occurrence of HIP are highly desired by the industry. Besides using BGA rework station followed by tedious dye and pry treatment, two other simpler methods are introduced in this work, Tiny Dot Paste method and Ball Onto Paste method. The Tiny Dot Paste method is stressed on the assessment of oxidation barrier capability of solder paste, while Ball Onto Paste method assesses combined capability of oxidation resistance and excessive fluxing capacity. Both methods are quick, easy, and close simulation, with the latter being better in real process simulation. Prevention of HIP can be accomplished by (1) designing packages without warpage, (2) printing more paste, (3) dipping solder paste or flux, (4) using inert reflow atmosphere, (5) reducing reflow temperature, (6) placing heat shield on BGA or CSP, (7) avoiding using water soluble solder paste for BGA bumped with no-clean process, (8) using solder bumps or solder powder with oxidation resistant alloy, (9) using fluxes with high oxidation barrier capability and high fluxing capacity. Among all options listed above, using solder paste with high oxidation barrier capability and high fluxing capacity is considered the most easily implemented approaches.

    head-in-pillow, solder, soldering, reflow, SMT, solder paste, BGA, CSP

    Posted on 24 Jan 2011

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