Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Plating aluminum to allow for solderability
My questions concerns high power (30W/in^2) thermal transfer between electronic components and aluminum heat sinks. I am trying to figure out a way to create a thermally conductive method of soldering directly to an aluminum substrate without the use of a thermal interface material (i.e., grease). Is there any processes that can be done to 6061 aluminum to allow for direct soldering to the aluminum? Maybe an economic plating?
Brad SmithElectrical Engineer - Phoenix, Arizona, USA
October 22, 2009
Hi, Brad. Aluminum is commonly zincated, followed by copper plating, followed by tin plating for very easy solderability. It can also be zincated followed by electroless nickel plating if you can reliably solder the electroless nickel.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
October 23, 2009
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