Solder Powder

Product

Electronic manufacturers require irreproachable solder powder geometry and metallurgical conditions to meet world-class quality standards for their applications. To that perspective, IPS has developed unique in-house atomization processes for conventional solder powders and for ultrafine solder powders. These processes are known to be the most efficient way for producing high quality and cost-competitive solder Powders. IPS invests a significant fraction of its revenues in R&D programs to keep its technological lead.

Perfect spherical shape Smooth & bright surface with controlled oxidation level Constant R&D efforts to meet customer needs and satisfaction Uniform microstructure & homogeneous alloy composition Surface free from organic contaminants
The highly spherical shape of the soldering powder improves fluidity, reduces oxidation as the specific surface area of the particles is minimal, and prevents clogging of the injection nozzles during processing.

Size distribution

IPS offers a range of conventional and ultrafine solder powders from Type 3 to Type 9. Several in-house processes developed by IPS, depending on the Type required, are used to obtain these powders. They all result in perfect spherical particles with low oxygen content, in contrast to methods such as spinning or gas atomization that can be used in other industries. The highly spherical shape of the soldering powder improves fluidity, reduces oxidation as the specific surface area of the particles is minimal, and prevents clogging of the injection nozzles during processing.

For other Particle Size Distribution, please contact us
TYPE 3

25-45μm

TYPE 4

20-38μm

TYPE 5

15-25μm

TYPE 6

5-15μm

TYPE 7

2-11μm

TYPE 8

2-8μm

TYPE 9

1-5μm

Alloy

IPS’ alloyed Solder Powders are produced using high purity metals. IPS’ range of Solder Powder offers a wide choice of alloy compositions with melting points up to 310°C ( 590°F ).

SAC alloys SAC + Ni SnCu SnPb SnPbAg BiSn BiSnAg SnSb And others

The flexibility of IPS manufacturing process allows the production of both industry standard and non standard Solder Powders in a broad range of alloys and characteristics to meet the needs of most manufacturers.

Alloy CharacteristicsSol °CLiq °C
Sn42Bi58138138
Sn96Ag2.5Bi1Cu0.5214218
Sn95.5Ag4Cu0.5217219
Sn95.5Ag3.8Cu0.7217221
Sn98.5Ag1Cu0.5221221
Sn96.5Ag3.5221221
Sn96Ag4221229
Sn95Ag5221245
Sn96.5Ag3Cu0.5 (SAC 305)217217
Sn99.3Cu0.7227227
Sn99Cu1227227
Sn97Cu3227300
Sn100232232
Sn95Sb05232240
Sn46Pb46Bi8120167
Sn43Pb43Bi14144163
Sn62Pb36Ag2179179
Sn62Pb35.6Ag2Sb0.4179179
Sn60Pb36Ag4179246
Sn63Pb037183183
Sn63Pb36.6Sb0.4183183
Sn60Pb40183191
Sn50Pb50183216
Sn10Pb88Ag2268290
Sn10Pb90275302
Sn05Pb92.5Ag2.5287296
Sn05Pb93.5Ag1.5296301
Sn05Pb95308212
Lead free alloys Leaded alloys

Applications

Solder powder is usually mixed with flux to form a solder paste. The choice of the particle size distribution and the nature of the alloy cover a wide range of needs: surface mounted technology, mini and micro-LED, semiconductor packaging, power electronic and battery assembly, etc. The excellent quality of our products allows them for military and aerospace application.

Mixed with the right corresponding flux, our solder powders and ultrafine solder powders are suitable for all uses: dispensing, jet printing (jetting), stencil printing, pin transfer.
The solder powder can also be used without flux for applications such as RFID antenna printing or other specific applications.

Conventional
solder powders
Ultrafine
solder powders
Surface mount devices on PCB
Fine pitch solder bump and
fine stencil opening
Semiconductor packaging
Mini and Micro LED
Power electronics assembly
Battery assembly
Conventional
solder powders
Surface mount devices on PCB
Power electronics assembly
Battery assembly
Ultrafine
solder powders
Fine pitch solder bump and
fine stencil opening
Semiconductor packaging
Mini and Micro LED

Quality control

IPS Solder Powders are manufactured through a severe Quality Management System that allows the company to serve the market with irreproachable products. Quality checks are performed at every stage of the production. As a standard procedure, properties tested on each manufacturing batch of Solder Powder include:

  • Composition and impurity levels: The composition of each batch of alloy ingot and solder powder are analysed. Composition analysis is performed with spark spectrometer. All IPS Solder Powders meet or exceed J-STD-006 or ISO9453 international standards.
  • Oxide content: Oxyde content is checked by chemical tests.
  • Particle size distribution (PSD): PSD of the powder is double check using a laser diffraction particle size analyzer and an electronical image analysis system.
  • Particle shape: Particle shape is checked by observation of the Solder Powder with a microscope at a set magnification in order to define the percentage of spherical or elliptical particles. IPS’ Solder Powders do have sphericity exceeding 95% (97% minimum for 20-38 micron standard Powder grade). All particles are free from surface defect.
  • Solder balling: Note: that the solder balling performance of Solder Powder depends on the nature of the flux. For its standard QC procedure, IPS uses a mildly activated RMA rosin flux and / or no-clean flux. IPS can also perform solder balling test upon request using customer standard QC flux and test procedures.
Packing ips solder powder

Packing

Each bag of solder powder is carefully inerted and packed to preserve all its properties during transport and storage. Robust aluminium bags selected after internal tests are used. Depending on customer requirements, the bags can be placed in plastic buckets and then packed in cartons or wooden boxes on pallets.