Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Acid copper plating void holes

My line is the acid copper plating and recently we are facing the void hole where it happened at the entrance of the hole (only 1 side). Within 1 big area (approx. 1200 holes) only 1 to 4 holes affected. A thorough troubleshooting has been done including the carbon polish treatment for 4 hrs but it seems still alive inside my bath! please someone who knows the remedy, let me know.

Hazrul
Process engineer - Malacca, Malaysia
2004

Please share with me responses to the plating void problem.

Terry Chavez
- Calamba City, Philippines
June 4, 2008

I WOULD like to look further on this matter as I have the same problem in my company.

Godfrey FUKU
pc boards - SA
June 23, 2008

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July 6, 2008

Normally voids in the hole wall is not caused by an acid copper bath malfunction. The number one cause is that the electroless copper or direct metallization is void in those areas. Without complete electroless copper or DM coverage, acid copper will not adhere, ergo voids! Now, lets get to possible roots of the problem.

1) Drill debris left in holes, not removed in vapor blast or scrubbing.
2) Improper etchback or removal of laminate resin from drilling, or drill stack height too high.
3) Panels too close together in rack, catalyst not able to get into holes.
You should check for voids right after electroless copper using a good eye loop or a lighted oscilloscope. Good Luck!

Mark Baker
process engineer - Malone, New York

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Has anyone considered doing a backlight test on the electroless/DM coverage? Assuming we're talking PCB's here, it would help to know if these are glass or epoxy voids.

James Totter, CEF
- Tallahassee, Florida
July 11, 2008

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In my old job... I had the same problem..and at last I understood that the reason of holes is copper sulphate..The quality of copper sulphate [on eBay or Amazon]is not good..

we made a new bad with a good copper sulphate and all the holes had gone

N.Arda Basaran
Plating - Istanbul, Turkey
August 15, 2008