ENEPIG surface treatment

Many customer requires ENEPIG surface treatment instead of ENIG for their PCB recently, and some customer also want to know more about ENEPIG in the inquiry. What is ENEPIG, why use it, what benefit can I get? Well, here is a brief introduction about ENEPIG (Electroless Nickel - Electroless Palladium - Immersion Gold).

ENEPIG delivers great solder joint strength with various alloys during multiple reflow soldering, especially SAC305. The middle palladium layer helps to stabilize and control the inner metallic layer. Because of the mixture, ENEPIG after testing showed amazing wire bonding, both with aluminum and gold.

What is ENEPIG?

ENEPIG or Electroless Nickel - Electroless Palladium - Immersion Gold is a surface finish for Printed Circuit Boards that has been around for a decade but is only recently coming back into vogue. The high price of palladium had kept it out of reach for most businesses. With the price of palladium now less than the price of gold, this surface finish becomes the best choice for wire bonding, ROHS assembly and just all boards overall. ENEPIG works well with lead free and conventional eutectic solder alloys (Eutectic means its 63% tin and 37% lead.) ENEPIG is called the "Universal" surface finish as it can be used for all assembly processes.

So why is ENEPIG the "universal" finish?
1. Excellent ROHS lead free and leaded solderability
Because palladium completely dissolves into the solder leaving an oxide free nickel surface which allows a reliable tin nickel inter metallic.

2. High wire bond pull strengths (aluminum wire: up to 10g; gold wire: up to 8g). .
After numerous tests, it holds high pull weights.
Good for aluminum wedge and gold ball bonding

3. Low contact resistance
Due to the controlled deposition of precious metals the electrical resistance is more uniform so it's easier to predict amperage.

4. Suitable for conductive adhesives
You can connect components without the use of solder.

5. Finish is corrosion resistant and pore-free
Multiple layers of metal provide a higher corrosion resistant coating.

6. Unlimited shelf life
Doesn't tarnish

7. Nickel acts a barrier layer to further reduce copper dissolution during wave solder, thus ensuring good solderability.
Nickel prevents the mixing of copper and solder.

ENEPIG is suitable for soldering, gold wire bonding, aluminum wire bonding and contact resistance. It is formed by the sequential deposition of electroless Ni (120 to 240 micro inches) followed by 2 to 10 micro inches of electroless Palladium with an immersion gold flash of 2 to 6 micro inches on the top.