When the chips are packaged and tested, they must be assembled on mother boards. Vapor Phase Soldering (VPS) uses the latent heat of condensation of Galden® PFPE vapors in order to melt solder paste and hence to obtain reliable metal joints. Solder traditionally used ~ 60% of tin (Sn) and ~ 40% of lead (Pb).

Now alternative solder materials have been introduced; the most common replacements for lead are silver (Ag), Copper (Cu) and Bismuth (Bi). These alternative materials, however, bring a challenge: higher melting temperature. Traditional tin/lead solders melt at ~ 180°C while lead free solder melts at ~227°C. Soldering temperatures are, as well as heating issues, ongoing concerns for PCBs assemblers.

Galden® PFPE LS / HS is a line of fully fluorinated fluids specifically designed for the VPS process with the following properties:

• The narrow molecular weight distribution
• Very strong carbon-fluorine bond
• Flexible ether link

Galden® PFPE LS and HS fluids precise vapor temperature eliminates overheating, offering the widest temperature range to lead free solders up to 260°C and are RoHS compliant.

Thermal shock testing is performed to check the resistance of electronic devices to extreme changes in temperature. The test is carried out by alternately dipping the devices in liquids maintained at two different temperatures. For military applications the thermal shock test must be performed as specified in MIL STD 883 method 1011 or MIL STD 202 method 107.

Traditionally two different fluids can be used in the hot and cold bath but the Dual Fluid System presents several disadvantages. A Single Fluid System is possible withGalden® PFPE fluids because they can operate at very low as well as elevated temperatures. This Single Fluid System for both baths allows for a dramatic decrease in operating costs by:

• Limiting fluid consumption
• Reducing equipment downtime
• Eliminating cross contamination
• Reducing inventory to a single product

Galden® PFPE D02TS and D03 are the single fluids which can successfully replace the need for a Dual Fluid System.

Galden® D02TS is  proposed for all  military applications; it meets the MIL STD 883 and MIL STD 202 while for all non-military applications Galden® PFPE D03 may be suitable.

Electronic devices must be completely sealed to avoid penetration by moisture and potential damage to the electrical response of the silicon chip. To guarantee the hermeticity of devices, a leak test procedure has been defined by MIL STD 883, MIL STD 750 and MIL STD 202. Galden® PFPE fluids, being extremely inert and residue-free, are ideal and widely used as detector and indicator fluids in leak test procedures.

Galden® PFPE DET: detector fluid specifically designed for high reliability measures. Thanks to its perfect balance between low and high boilers components, itcan easily detect large and small leaks. High boilers enter through large leaks and remain liquid until the test is performed while low boilers can easily penetrate into small leaks.

Galden® PFPE D02 and D03 are low consumption indicator fluids advantageously used as Indicator fluids respectively in military and non-military applications. They show an higher boiling point and a lower vapor pressure at test temperature

• Thermally stable
• Chemically inert
• Non-flammable
• Non-toxic

They are compatible with

• Metals
• Hydrogenated polymers
• Oxygen
• Aggressive gases, even at very high temperatures.

They possess:

• Low vapor pressure
• Good dielectrical properties.

  When critical applications have to be addressed where aggressive chemical environments, high temperatures or wide working temperature ranges are involved, they represent the lubricants of choice. Fomblin® PFPE Y LVAC and Y HVAC grades are ideal for use in vacuum pumps as sealing and working fluids especially in those systems exposed to aggressive gases. Fomblin® PFPE Y HVAC combines narrow molecular weight range and controlled viscosity with an extremely low vapor pressure.

  Chemical inertness, thermal stability above 290°C and the potential to provide anti-rust and anti-wear additivation make the Fomblin® VAC product line ideal for lubrication of vacuum pumps in harsh environments such as semiconductor processing.

Fomblin® PFPE Z derivates are well know lubricants for the Magnetic Recording Media industry. They are used as top lubricant on the HD drive surface to prevent damaged on the disk surface.