Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Soldering on High-phosphor electroless nickel plated aluminium housing

2007

We are using medium phosphor electroless nickel plating for our application where we have to solder it with Sn60/Pb40. now we want to go for high phosphor nickel plating to take advantage of high corrosion resistance.We are facing solderability problem.

Is there any method to do soldering operation on high phosphor? Any chemical or other thing available to improve solderability of High phosphor nickel plating?
I will be very thankful if somebody suggest solution to my problem.

Satyavathi . K
Electronics manufacturing - Hyderabad, AP, India

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First of two simultaneous responses -- 2007

Fresh nickel solders better than old nickel does.
You might try a fine carbide sandpaper on the places you want to solder.
A stronger flux is another possibility.
I would run a bunch of test panels before I made any jump.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

Satyavathi,
Hi-phos EN isn't really famous for good solderability as it is for corrosion resistance. A 0.2-0.5% boron (EN) system offers high electrical conductivity, low contact resistance, good shelf life for subsequent solderability. The corrosion resistance is not as good as high phos EN, but you will like how it solders. Good Luck!

Mark Baker
Process Engineer - Syracuse, New York
2007