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HELP WITH LEAD FREE SOLDER PLATING

I am currently working on switching our plating line over to lead free plating and having trouble finding info on where to begin. I know very little of lead free plating but do realize that the industry is moving in that direction. If anyone can help I could really use it.

Thank you,

Rich Ponn
electronics mfgr. - Orwell, Ohio, U.S.A.
2004

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In order to give you some realistic advice more info is needed. Are you looking for a solder, or a solderability preservative? Is the plating on boards, or components?

James Totter, CEF
- Tallahassee, Florida
2004

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2004

I can help here...it's actually my project. To clarify:

A partner company will be making a change over to lead-free products over the next year. This includes many connectors. We (and they) are currently plating SnPb over alloy 77000 and a variety of beryllium Cu and Ni alloys. Because of our significant involvement in continuous reel to reel plating, we've pretty much narrowed the possibilities down to Ni/Pd. We do this type of plating both in-house and outside.

That's the point we're at now. So...we're really looking for help both in finding the chemicals and in building our in-house expertise.

Sorry for the broad nature of this query. We know we have a long way to go.

Tim Ponn
Electronics - Orwell, Ohio