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Ball grid array (BGA) packages have become very popular in modern
However, soldering BGAs onto printed circuit boards (PCBs) can be quite
challenging due to their fine pad pitch and solder ball grid underneath the
where the solder pad gets eroded away causing an uneven and unreliable
joint. This article explores the major causes behind pad cratering failures
Pad cratering manifests as excessive solder being drawn out of the pad
by solder voids. The pad may get so eroded that its circuit connection gets
the solder volume and wetting forces during reflow. The reasons for this
Having too much solder paste on the pad prior to reflow can lead to
cratering. Excess solder exerts a high vertical force which draws out pad
Causes:
Solutions:
Use thinner stencil (5-6 mils thick) with optimized aperture design
Poor Solderability
If the pad metallization doesn’t wet well with solder, it can enhance
cratering. The high surface tension forces the solder to ball up and
Causes:
Solutions:
Slow heating of the solder joint allows more time for pad erosion to occur.
Ideally, the joint should heat rapidly through the reflow zone.
Causes:
Solutions:
Voids under the BGA weaken the joint strength and can initiate cratering
Causes:
Solutions:
The pad design itself may contribute to cratering if not optimized for BGA
soldering.
Causes:
Solutions:
Use thick 8-10 mil pads with 6-8 mil solder mask
Causes:
Solutions:
forces. This occurs with alloys like SAC305 that have a high melting point.
Causes:
Solutions:
Causes:
Solutions:
cratering.
Causes:
Solutions:
Summary of Solutions
Conclusion
Pad cratering is a serious defect in BGA soldering which can cause joint
printing, reflow profile, paste and flux, BGA and pad dimensions, alloy
solder joints. Look for uneven and eroded pad surfaces with excessive
solder draw. The pad thickness would be substantially reduced. There may
be large voids under balls or cracked joints. Electrical tests would reveal
opens/intermittents.
replacement.
avoid overheating pads. Apply new flux and use solder spheres when
re-attachting BGAs. Carefully clean pads after removal of old BGAs. Follow
For a 1 mm pitch BGA, use 8 mil diameter pads with 6 mil solder mask
openings per IPC-7351 guidelines. For 0.8 mm BGA pitch, use 7 mil pads
expiry and application of solder pastes. Use no-clean flux designed for
BGAs.
Related Posts:
soldering?
Guide To Soldering
https://www.raypcb.com/reasons-for-pcb-resin-material-cracking-under-bga-pads-during-smt-processing/