Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/960594
22 SMT007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2018 powertrain and advanced detection devices creates a need for assembly materi- als that exhibit excellent creep resistance. The combination of the end product's performance requirements as well as expo- sure to environmental stresses is driving increased reliabil- ity demands on the assembly materials. Thermal management is crit- ical from both application and processing perspectives. In powertrain applications facing high-operating temperatures, the ability to develop creep resis- tant alloys capable of facing temperature ranges from -40°C to 150°C is driving the need for high-reliability alloys such as InnoLot. Thermal management from a processing perspective is driving the need to develop low-temperature alloys capable of high reliability to prevent component warpage during reflow. Alpha's HRL1 alloy exhibits excellent mechanical reliability relative to SAC305 while reducing processing temperatures by 50°C. This has proven to have a profound impact on reduction of component warpage leading to increased yields and enhanced product performance. Las Marias: How do you help ensure the reli- ability of electronics assemblies for cars? Salerno: The answer to this question really begins with the relationship we maintain with our customers. Maintaining a strong voice of customer enables Alpha to develop next gener- ation products to meet the upcoming needs of the marketplace. Having a global R&D and technical service footprint allows Alpha the flexibility to quickly address customer needs, albeit on a production line or in the lab. We maintain a cutting edge analytical and diag- nostic lab capable of characterizing assembly performance through use of equipment such as SEM/FEM, as well as conducting field tests such as thermal cycling and surface insula- tion resistance to qualify the performance of our products in a given appli- cation. For example, the abil- ity to measure electrochemical migration and corrosion resis- tance of our solder pastes on fine-pitch components ensures the reliability of our products in advanced detection devices. Las Marias: Are there new requirements being placed upon you by your customers dealing with automotive elec- tronics? Salerno: As always, demands are unique to the given appli- cation. The need for assembly materials capa- ble of meeting operating temperatures above 120°C is commonplace for devices located closest to heat-generating sources of the vehicle. We are seeing thermal cycling demands of -40°C/150°C with requirements above 2,000 cycles for these powertrain applications. For advanced safety detection systems, not only are thermal cycling requirements increasing, but there is a growing need for fine pitched electrochemical reliability. It is not uncommon to see power density increasing and component sizes shrinking as these advanced detection devices become more sophisticated and miniaturized. Finally, for in-cabin electronics, a focus on total cost of ownership is driving the need for low-temperature, high-reliability alloys. Las Marias: What new technologies from Alpha target these issues? Salerno: Alpha is committed to the develop- ment of next-generation solder alloy and pastes chemistries to meet the current and future needs of our customers. For high temperature and vibrational applications such as powertrain and advanced detection devices, highly creep- resistant alloys, such as our InnoLot alloy, is key to meeting the reliability requirements of our automotive customers. Additionally, our CVP-390 solder paste chemistry delivers Paul Salerno