TEDDINGTON, UK – National Physical Laboratory scientists are researching what use of Pb-free solder alloys could mean for tin pest and tin whiskers.
NPL has been studying the allotropic phase transformation in tin and its alloys, commonly known as tin pest, to measure the implications of adopting Pb-free solder manufacturing practices.The firm has received funding from the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform. It seeks industry support for the work on the order of £5,200 per company for the 14-month project.
Also, NPL has developed a measurement system and test method
to assess the ability of different conformal coatings to stop or slow down tin
whisker growth. The method can help conformal coating suppliers modify coatings
to inhibit whisker initiation, growth and penetration for electronics.
SMYRNA, GA – Solder vendors are denying reports of plans to eliminate a type of flux classified in industry standards as rosin mildly activated (RMA).
On an industry email forum Friday, an engineer at a large defense contractor said he had heard from solder reps of a consensus to discontinue RMA fluxes due to a lack of general use.