ASTM B678-86(2011)
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Solderability of Metallic-Coated Products
Standard Test Method for Solderability of Metallic-Coated Products
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
In order that a sound solder joint be formed simply and quickly in a production operation, the molten solder must readily wet and spread over the surfaces of the products being joined. For this to happen, the surfaces must be clean or be soiled only with contaminants that are easily removed by an appropriate flux. It often is necessary that the flux be only strong enough to remove the normally occurring soils. A more aggressive flux may corrode the product and have other harmful effects. Nonactivated rosin in alcohol is the standard flux used in this test method; however, provision is made for the use of other fluxes. Since rosin is a mild flux, it provides better discrimination between acceptable and unacceptable solderability in marginal cases than do more active fluxes.
Metallic coatings are frequently used to provide solderable surfaces. But, an improperly produced coating may not yield the required solderability. There are many coating defects that cause poor solderability including porosity, codeposited impurities, incorrect thickness, and surface contamination. It may be difficult or impractical to test a coating directly for each of the undesirable conditions. In these instances solderability is tested. Products that pass the solderability test can be expected to solder satisfactorily in production. In the case of failure to pass the test, the test results will not reveal the cause of the inadequate solderability, though, with experience, an operator may be able to identify the cause.
This test method measures the ability of a coated product to be soldered with 60/40 tin/lead solder using a nonactivated rosin flux. This solder and this flux, or an activated form of it, are generally used in the assembly of electronic products.
It is intended that the tested specimens be components of electronic products or articles with the same general shape and mass. Articles that are much more massive than this will heat up too slowly during the solder immersion. If...
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1.1 This test method provides a procedure for evaluating the solderability of metallic-coated products and test specimens to assure satisfactory performance in manufacturing processes requiring soldering with soft (tin-lead) solder and rosin flux. This test method is applicable only for testing coatings that are normally readily solderable such as: tin, tin-lead alloy, silver, and gold.
1.2 This test method is qualitative and broadly applicable. It is easy to perform and requires only simple equipment. There are other solderability tests not covered by this test method that are more applicable to specific situations, yield quantitative results, or both. Several are described in the literature. This is a “go-no-go” test and does not grade solderability as excellent, good, fair, and so forth.
1.3 This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: B678 − 86 (Reapproved 2011)
Standard Test Method for
Solderability of Metallic-Coated Products
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B678; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope complete and uniform coverage by the solder. When specifi-
callyrequired,thespecimensareartificiallyagedbeforetesting
1.1 Thistestmethodprovidesaprocedureforevaluatingthe
by exposure to hot, humid air.
solderability of metallic-coated products and test specimens to
assure satisfactory performance in manufacturing processes
4. Significance and Use
requiring soldering with soft (tin-lead) solder and rosin flux.
4.1 In order that a sound solder joint be formed simply and
Thistestmethodisapplicableonlyfortestingcoatingsthatare
quickly in a production operation, the molten solder must
normally readily solderable such as: tin, tin-lead alloy, silver,
readily wet and spread over the surfaces of the products being
and gold.
joined. For this to happen, the surfaces must be clean or be
1.2 Thistestmethodisqualitativeandbroadlyapplicable.It
soiled only with contaminants that are easily removed by an
is easy to perform and requires only simple equipment. There
appropriate flux. It often is necessary that the flux be only
areothersolderabilitytestsnotcoveredbythistestmethodthat
strong enough to remove the normally occurring soils.Amore
are more applicable to specific situations, yield quantitative
aggressive flux may corrode the product and have other
results, or both. Several are described in the literature. This is
harmful effects. Nonactivated rosin in alcohol is the standard
a “go-no-go” test and does not grade solderability as excellent,
flux used in this test method; however, provision is made for
good, fair, and so forth.
the use of other fluxes. Since rosin is a mild flux, it provides
1.3 This standard may involve hazardous materials,
better discrimination between acceptable and unacceptable
operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to
solderability in marginal cases than do more active fluxes.
address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its
4.2 Metallic coatings are frequently used to provide solder-
use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to
able surfaces. But, an improperly produced coating may not
establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter-
yieldtherequiredsolderability.Therearemanycoatingdefects
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
that cause poor solderability including porosity, codeposited
2. Referenced Documents impurities, incorrect thickness, and surface contamination. It
maybedifficultorimpracticaltotestacoatingdirectlyforeach
2.1 ASTM Standards:
oftheundesirableconditions.Intheseinstancessolderabilityis
B32Specification for Solder Metal
tested. Products that pass the solderability test can be expected
D509Test Methods of Sampling and Grading Rosin
to solder satisfactorily in production. In the case of failure to
D1193Specification for Reagent Water
pass the test, the test results will not reveal the cause of the
3. Summary of Test Method
inadequate solderability, though, with experience, an operator
may be able to identify the cause.
3.1 The specimen to be tested is coated with rosin flux,
dipped briefly into molten tin-lead solder, and examined for
4.3 This test method measures the ability of a coated
product to be soldered with 60/40 tin/lead solder using a
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeB08onMetallic
nonactivated rosin flux. This solder and this flux, or an
and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.10 on
activated form of it, are generally used in the assembly of
Test Methods.
electronic products.
Current edition approved April 1, 2011. Published April 2011. Originally
approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as B678–86 (2006).
4.4 It is intended that the tested specimens be components
DOI: 10.1520/B0678-86R11.
of electronic products or articles with the same general shape
Long, J. B., “A Critical Review of Solderability Testing,” in Properties of
Electrodeposits, Their Measurement and Significance, edited by Richard Sard,
and mass. Articles that are much more massive than this will
Henry Leidheiser, Jr., and Fielding Ogburn, The Electrochemical Society, 1975.
heat up too slowly during the solder immersion. If more
Harding, W. B., “Solderability Testing,” Plating, Vol 52, No. 10, October 1965,
massive specimens are to be tested, a longer immersion time
pp. 971–981.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or will have to be used, the time to be determined by experiment.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
4.5 If the specimen tested is longer than 25 mm, its bottom
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. end will be in the solder for significantly longer than the
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
B678 − 86 (Reapproved 2011)
specified time. Therefore, if the specimen is longer than 25 8.2 For tin and tin-lead coatings, if it is required that the
mm,theresultsobtainedatthebottomendofthespecimenare specimens be aged before solderability testing, proceed as
invalid. This part of the specimen shall be discounted in the directed in 8.3. If the specimens are not to be aged, start the
evaluation of the results. A second set of tests can be run on tests with 8.5.
additional specimens in which the specimens are only partly
8.3 Suspend the specimens in a vessel above boiling water
immersed. These would be used to evaluate the bottom ends.
andleavethemtherewiththewaterboilingcontinuouslyfor24
h. Keep the vessel covered and assure that the specimens do
5. Flux
not touch the side of the vessel and that the lower edges of the
specimens are from 50 to 100 mm above the surface of the
5.1 The flux shall be a 25 6
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