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18 PCB007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2025 integrity is a crucial factor as well. As electronic devices are used in more demanding environ- ments, the robustness of ENIG and ENEPIG coatings under thermal and mechanical stress will be essential. Enhancing the durability of these coatings will be a key focus to ensure long-term performance. Further, high-fre- quency applications are becoming increasingly important in PCBs due to the growing demand for faster data transmission and the need to maintain the integrity of signals in high-speed electronic devices. Efforts by the industry are being made to adapt for this requirement 6 . Finally, as new technologies and materi- als emerge, gold processes will need to adapt. is includes compatibility with new soldering techniques—materials as well as base materi- als used in advanced electronics. Future elec- tronic devices will demand even higher perfor- mance from their components, requiring supe- rior electrical performance, corrosion resis- tance, and durability from these coatings. Addressing these future challenges through ongoing research and development will be key to advancing the technology and ensuring that gold finishes continue to meet the evolving needs of the electronics industry. PCB007 References 1. "Mixed reaction gold as versatile plating solution for ENIG, ENEPIG and EPAG plating," by B. Schaf- steller, M. Rosin, T. Schlosser, G. Ramos, IMAPS, US, 2022. 2. "ENIG–Corrosion: The status, the risks, and the solutions," by B. Schafsteller, T. Schlosser, M. Rosin, G. Ramos, IPC APEX EXPO 2021. 3. "Is a cyanide free gold bath able to perform ade- quately in a production environment?" by S. Nelle, R. Spreemann, B. Janssen, R. Nichols, G. Ramos, IMPACT, 2018. 4. "Electroless plating of ENEPIG and EPAG—Com- paring the impact of Pd-bath type and Au-bath type on the deposit properties and manufacturing con- ditions," by B. Schafsteller, D. Voloshyn, R. Spree- mann, S. Nelle , IMPACT 2024. 5. TPCA 2023 Press Release, Atotech, 2023. 6. "Investigating the Impact of Final Finishes on the Insertion Loss in As Received and After Aging," by Z. Hatab, Z., M.E. Gadringer, E. Schlaffer, B. Schaf- steller, M. Schwaemmlein, M. Rosin, G. Ramos, Ad- vancing Microelectronics Magazine, 2023. Britta Schafsteller is global product manager semiconductor at Atotech, Sandra Nelle is a junior product manager at Atotech, and Kuldip Johal is CTO/VP of business develop- ment at MKS Instruments.