Special Advertising Section
that decide the best alloy—not the suppli- explains. “When people need to make the
ers and not the industry associations. The critical decision of which lead-free solder
customers have decided that tin/copper/ they want to use, they will move toward the
nickel is the best, and most decide on the most proven alloy—SN100C.”
proven SN100C.” “I believe that our mission is more than
The fluidity of SN100C is comparable to spread the use of SN00C around the
to that of tin-lead and is one of the factors world,” Nishimura says. “It is to achieve,
that contributes to excellent through-hole through high-level academic research,
fill and minimal shorts in wave soldering. recognition of SN100C as the ‘Global
However, that property is also an advantage Standard Lead-free Solder’ and so open up
in hand soldering where, in combination opportunities for expanding its applica-
with the right core flux (030), it makes tion in new market sectors. We hope that
possible the completion of more than 35 by this continuing pursuit of excellence,
average joints per minute with a tip tem- Nihon Superior will face the future as the
perature of only 380°C. innovator of the solder industry.”
The 227°C melting point of SN100C
was first thought to preclude its use in
reflow soldering, but when it was noted
Mike Scimeca, president of FCT Assembly that tin-silver-copper alloys (such as SAC
305 with a melting point of 217°-218°C) are
typically reflowed with a peak temperature
M
ike Scimeca, president of FCT As-
sembly, looks back on the SN100C
around 245°C, it was realized that SN100C
material from 10 years ago and explains
could be a drop-in replacement. Its high
that the material has not changed very
fluidity and excellent wetting proper-
much at all. “Unlike many of the competi-
ties mean that SN100C can be reflowed
tive alloys on the market today, this product
successfully at a lower superheat above
did not need to be readjusted. It is the best
liquidus than SAC alloys.
replacement to 63/37 solder on market and
Additionally, SN100C is available as
in time will be the default alloy.”
a high-performance solder paste with a
He believes that SN100C’s success is
general purpose “P500” flux medium. Be-
based on sound technology and innova-
cause of its high fluidity close to its melting
tion. Also instrumental in its success, says
point and fast wetting, SN100C P500 can
Scimeca, is Nihon Superior’s approach of
be used as a drop-in replacement for SAC
picking only a select group of licensees that
solder paste in reflow profiles that peak
have been able to break through the barrier
around 245°C ±5°C. The P500 no-clean
Managing director for the Balver Zinn Group,
Josef Jost
of a new lead-free alloy as opposed to licens-
halide-free medium delivers excellent print-
ing any and all interested companies.
ability, long stencil life, good tack, excellent
But as good as the product is—and has
reflow and wetting on all substrates wit
!
h no
been for the past 10 years—it did not meet
solder balls and minimal clear residue. T
he German-based Balver Zinn Group
has a pedigree in the metals business
with instant recognition and implementa-
Advantages of the tin-copper system in- dating back to the late 19th century. Today,
tion, making this milestone that much
clude its ruggedness in impact loading, and their core competencies include high-
more memorable. SN100C has had to
the nickel addition provides inhibition of quality anodes with various alloys, as well
work hard to find its place in the industry.
the intermetallic growth that can increase as soft solders, specialty wires and lead-free
According to Scimeca, it took time before
the susceptibility of joints to failure in products for the electronics industry. As
the alloy was accepted. “There are a lot of
shock loading, e.g. when a mobile phone is part of the global alliance in the sale of the
politics in this business and it was difficult
dropped. These properties are prompting SN100C solder alloy, Managing Director,
to get trials for SN100C.” Then iNEMI
the industry to evaluate SN100C in flip Josef Jost and the team celebrate its land-
and IPC’s Solder Value Product Council
chip and area-array packages. mark 10 years in the industry.
announced support for the SAC alloys,
Looking ahead to the future of Balver Zinn has held the license
making the battle for recognition more
SN100C, Scimeca says that he sees it be- to distribute the patented wave solder
difficult. However, Nihon Superior knew
coming the default alloy in the market. He alloy SN100C in Europe for more than
it had a truly superior product and did not
reports that competitive companies have seven years, when they began their fruitful
give up. And now, according to Scimeca
been trying to copy this material, but with partnership with Nihon Superior. This
and many others, SN100C’s name is the
Nihon Superior holding the patent for the has been an extremely successful partner-
strongest and most well known in lead-free
technology behind SN100C, all copies will ship, which forms part of a global alliance
solder.
have to work outside the optimum concen- with DKL Metals in the UK and FCTA
“I believe that SN100C is superior to
trations of nickel. He adds, “Customers in Colorado, US. The SN100C nickel stabi-
the SAC alloys on all the key issues,” Sci-
want the best lead-free alloy with the biggest lized tin/copper alloy had already enjoyed
meca says. These issues include copper ero-
operating window, and this is SN100C.” enormous success in Asia, and in the last
sion, cosmetics, no cracking, easy bath to
Without nickel, the competition’s products seven years Balver Zinn has been successful
maintain, the fact that it is a eutectic alloy,
cannot come close to achieving SN100C’s in making it a household name for the elec-
and cost. “In the end, it is the customers
reliability. “The alloy has more reliability tronics assembly market in Europe. In 2007
data than all of the other copies,” Scimeca Balver Zinn’s license was extended to
www.globalsmt.net Global SMT & Packaging – February 2009 – 29
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