ASTM B678-86(2017)
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Solderability of Metallic-Coated Products
Standard Test Method for Solderability of Metallic-Coated Products
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 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.
4.2 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.
4.3 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.
4.4 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 s...
SCOPE
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.2 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: B678 − 86 (Reapproved 2017)
Standard Test Method for
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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 2. Referenced Documents
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2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 Thistestmethodprovidesaprocedureforevaluatingthe
B32Specification for Solder Metal
solderability of metallic-coated products and test specimens to
D509Test Methods of Sampling and Grading Rosin
assure satisfactory performance in manufacturing processes
D1193Specification for Reagent Water
requiring soldering with soft (tin-lead) solder and rosin flux.
Thistestmethodisapplicableonlyfortestingcoatingsthatare
3. Summary of Test Method
normally readily solderable such as: tin, tin-lead alloy, silver,
and gold. 3.1 The specimen to be tested is coated with rosin flux,
dipped briefly into molten tin-lead solder, and examined for
1.2 Thistestmethodisqualitativeandbroadlyapplicable.It
complete and uniform coverage by the solder. When specifi-
is easy to perform and requires only simple equipment. There
callyrequired,thespecimensareartificiallyagedbeforetesting
areothersolderabilitytestsnotcoveredbythistestmethodthat
by exposure to hot, humid air.
are more applicable to specific situations, yield quantitative
2
results, or both. Several are described in the literature. This is
4. Significance and Use
a “go-no-go” test and does not grade solderability as excellent,
4.1 In order that a sound solder joint be formed simply and
good, fair, and so forth.
quickly in a production operation, the molten solder must
1.3 This standard may involve hazardous materials,
readily wet and spread over the surfaces of the products being
operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to
joined. For this to happen, the surfaces must be clean or be
address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its
soiled only with contaminants that are easily removed by an
use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to
appropriate flux. It often is necessary that the flux be only
establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental prac-
strong enough to remove the normally occurring soils.Amore
tices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations
aggressive flux may corrode the product and have other
prior to use.
harmful effects. Nonactivated rosin in alcohol is the standard
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
flux used in this test method; however, provision is made for
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
the use of other fluxes. Since rosin is a mild flux, it provides
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
better discrimination between acceptable and unacceptable
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
solderability in marginal cases than do more active fluxes.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
4.2 Metallic coatings are frequently used to provide solder-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
able surfaces. But, an improperly produced coating may not
yieldtherequiredsolderability.Therearemanycoatingdefects
that cause poor solderability including porosity, codeposited
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ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeB08onMetallic
impurities, incorrect thickness, and surface contamination. It
and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.10 on
maybedifficultorimpracticaltotestacoatingdirectlyforeach
Test Methods.
oftheundesirableconditions.Intheseinstancessolderabilityis
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2017. Published December 2017. Originally
approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as B678–86 (2011). tested. Products that pass the solderability test can be expected
DOI: 10.1520/B0678-86R17.
2
Long, J. B., “A Critical Review of Solderability Testing,” in Properties of
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Electrodeposits, Their Measurement and Significance, edited by Richard Sard, For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Henry Leidheiser, Jr., and Fielding Ogburn, The Electrochemical Society, 1975. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Harding, W. B., “Solderability Testing,” Plating, Vol 52, No. 10, October 1965, Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
pp. 971–981. the ASTM website.
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