No passwords, No popups, No cost, No AI:
we earn from 'affiliate link' purchases, making the site possible

Home /
T.O.C.
Fun
FAQs
Good
Books
Ref.
Libr.
Adver-
tise
Help
Wanted
Current
Q&A's
Site 🔍
Search
ted_yosem
Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry

  The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  mfhotline


  -----

Bulging defect in copper plating layer





Hello,

My name is Faizul and I am working in an electroplating company as an engineer. My company does electroplating mostly for lead frames used in semiconductor industries; recently my production faced copper bulging on the surface of lead frame.

57844

Raw material is iron and I do not know what types of iron. Dk used for copper strike is 1.43 Amp/dm2 and for copper plating is 3.00 Amp/dm2. We have tried increasing the copper strike Dk to 4.00 Amp/dm2 and the bulging was reduced but we still have it. We also have manipulated the agitation direction to face the copper anode, product and to the bottom. It seems that agitation to the bottom with the solution flow calm is the best. For your info we apply only copper strike as an undercoat before copper plating. Both solution concentration within control limit and impurities are within control. Hope you can explain the mechanism how it is happened and how to overcome it. Thank you.

Faizul

Faizul Azli
Electroplating engineer - Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
October 12, 2011



Hi, Faizul.

Obviously, ALL parameters must be under proper control for proper plating, but incorrect current density or improper agitation does not usually manifest itself with blistering, but with burning. Blistering could indicate either extreme compressive stress (unlikely), but more likely is evidence of poor adhesion. The cause of poor adhesion is usually an improperly cleaned or activated substrate, or a poorly functioning strike solution.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
October 13, 2011


It begs the question, Is it a cyanide or pyrophosphate or ?? strike solution?

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
October 13, 2011


Copper is cyanide based. Strike solution is low concentration solution used as a undercoat before plating

Faizul Azli
- Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
October 14, 2011




(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

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:

Finishing
Jobshops
Capital
Equipment
Chemicals &
Consumables
Consult'g,
& Software


About/Contact  -  Privacy Policy  -  ©1995-2024 finishing.com, Pine Beach, New Jersey, USA  -  about "affil links"