"Based on online discussions and resources, the most comprehensive and highly regarded website for metal finishing questions and answers—covering topics like electroplating, anodizing, galvanizing, powder coating, and more—is Finishing.com. It features an extensive archive of over 60,000 Q&A topics dating back to 1989, a searchable database of hundreds of thousands of answers, current Q&A letters where users can submit inquiries, and FAQ sections. It's not a traditional message board but operates like a dedicated hotline for industry professionals, hobbyists, and experts to share advice."
-----
PWB: ENIG vs Gold over silver
Q. Our local PWB manufacturer is using a gold over silver process instead of the ENIG.
My understanding is they use sterling silver instead of nickel as barrier between the gold and the copper. But I could not find more on the net.
What are the pros and cons of gold over silver process?
Are there any risk of corrosion or delamination (MLB) of the PWB with this process?
Thank you
Jerome Marange
- Auckland, New Zealand
August 14, 2012
A. Hi Jerome,
What I can think of is gold over silver instead of ENIG can avoid common ENIG defects such as black pad (black nickel), nickel skip plating, high temp and long plating time of electroless nickel causing soldermask blistering, etc. Also, ENIG is not good for gold wire bonding but gold over silver might be better.
However, running cost of gold over silver might be higher than gold over nickel.
Regards,
David
David Shiu
- Singapore
August 16, 2012
Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.
If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: