MacDermid Alpha Offering Sterling® and AlphaSTAR® Tarnish-Resistant Immersion Silver PCB Finishes

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MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, a global leader in the field of fully integrated materials, is offering immersion silver finishes that enable excellent general assembly performance on a wide range of circuit board types. MacDermid Alpha has Sterling® and AlphaSTAR® immersion silver finishes to their offering. They are positioned as a go-to choice for standard printed circuit boards, offering a versatile and reliable final finish.

Salient features of MacDermic Alpha's immersion silver PCB surface finishes include:

• Specified by fabricators, assemblers, and OEMs worldwide.
• Exceptional solder joint strength, touchpad functionality, and wire bondability.
• Superior conductivity for ultra-high RF applications.
• An effective solution for challenges such as black pads, tin whiskers, and exposed copper.

Sterling: Unmatched Performance Across Industries

MacDermid Enthone's Sterling immersion silver finish is highlighted for its exceptional performance attributes. From automotive to computers, military to communications, Sterling has emerged as one of the top choices for OEMs worldwide. Sterling's wire-bondable feature adds to its flexibility, ensuring optimal assembly outcomes. The unique characteristic of Sterling is its consistent delivery of strong and durable solder joints. During soldering, the thin silver finish dissolves entirely into the bulk solder, resulting in a reliable and resilient copper/tin solder joint.

Sterling provides:

• Exceptional solder joint strength.
• Touchpad functionality and wire bondability.
• In-circuit test compatibility.
• Versatility in application with both horizontal and vertical equipment.

AlphaSTAR: Industry-Leading Tarnish-Resistant Innovation

AlphaSTAR is an industry-leading tarnish-resistant immersion silver process. It not only eliminates planar microvoids but also prevents creep and flaking corrosion. AlphaSTAR is designed to meet the most complex lead-free assembly, end-use performance, and application requirements mandated by the world’s leading OEMs, PCB assemblers, and fabricators. AlphaSTAR selectively deposits a consistent and reliable high-performance silver coating, delivering exceptional first-pass yields at the lowest cost of ownership compared to traditional metallic processes.

Reliability Test Results of AlphaSTAR®

The AlphaSTAR process provides superior long-term electrical properties in addition to providing a clean surface that easily passes the IPC ionics test and typical automotive requirements. The consistent, reproducible coating possesses superior tarnish resistance, low contact resistance and is extremely easy to use. AlphaSTAR products are RoHS and WEEE-compliant, thus enabling OEM lead-free conversions.

Immersion Silver offerings from MacDermid Alpha mark a significant advancement in circuit board finishing technology, offering a comprehensive solution that addresses the evolving needs of fabricators, assemblers, and OEMs across the globe.

Click here to learn more about Immersion Silver Surface Finish on PCBs.

Click here for more details on AlphaSTAR®.

Click here for more details on Sterling®.