|
Problem |
Cause(s) |
Remedy |
|
Poor
Solderability |
Organic
contamination |
Perform
carbon treatment |
|
Inadequate plating thickness |
Increase the plating thickness |
|
Metallic contamination (Cu > 50 mg/l) |
Subject the
bath to dummy plating |
|
Excessive additive content |
Dilute
the bath or perform carbon treatment |
|
Br > 20
mg/l |
Dilute
the bath |
|
Low CD
Dullness |
High metal content |
Adjust the bath; use inert
anode |
|
High bath temperature |
Cool the bath to 65 deg F |
|
Insufficient amount of acid |
Add more acid |
|
Cl > 150 mg/l |
Dilute
the bath |
|
Over-all
Dullness |
Insufficient amount of
additives |
Increase additive content |
|
Low plating current |
Increase the plating current |
|
High bath temperature |
Cool the bath to 65 deg F |
|
I > 5 mg/l |
Dilute
the bath |
|
Poor
Throwing Power |
Insufficient amount of
additives |
Increase additive content |
|
High metal content for current
used |
Adjust
the current; dilute
the bath |
|
Insufficient amount of acid |
Add more acid |
|
Low
Cathode Efficiency |
Low metal content for current
used |
Adjust
the current; increase the metal content |
|
Insufficient amount of acid |
Add more acid |
|
Pitting
in High Current Areas |
Insufficient amount of
additives |
Increase additive content |
|
Low metal content for current
used |
Increase
the metal content |
|
Tarnishing |
Improper rinsing |
Perform post-rinsing |
|
Low plating thickness |
Increase plating thickness |
|
Pre-plate contamination |
Eliminate pre-plate
contaminants |
|
Anode Polarization |
Presence of sludge in the bath
or basket |
Filter the bath; clean the
anodes |
|
Burning |
Insufficient amount of
additives |
Increase additive content |
|
High plating current |
Decrease the plating current |
|
Low metal content |
Increase
the metal content |
|
Cloudy/Turbid Solution |
Presence of stannic tin in the
bath |
Subject the bath to appropriate
treatment |
|
Presence of chlorides or
sulfates in the bath |
Filter the bath and eliminate
the source of chlorides and sulfates |
|
Roughness |
Presence of stannic tin in the
bath |
Subject the bath to appropriate
treatment |
|
Presence of insolubles in the
bath |
Filter the bath |
|
Presence of lead precipitates
in the bath |
Filter the bath and eliminate
the source of precipitates |
|
Foaming |
High additive content |
Perform
carbon treatment |
|
Sn/Pb Ratio Problems |
Incorrect bath |
Adjust the bath composition |
|
Poor bath agitation |
Increase bath agitation |
|
Presence of nitrates in the
bath |
Dilute the bath and eliminate
the source of nitrates |
