ASTM B678-86(2006)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:B678–86(Reapproved2006)
Standard Test Method for
Solderability of Metallic-Coated Products
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B678; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope complete and uniform coverage by the solder. When specifi-
callyrequired,thespecimensareartificiallyagedbeforetesting
1.1 Thistestmethodprovidesaprocedureforevaluatingthe
by exposure to hot, humid air.
solderability of metallic-coated products and test specimens to
assure satisfactory performance in manufacturing processes
4. Significance and Use
requiring soldering with soft (tin-lead) solder and rosin flux.
4.1 In order that a sound solder joint be formed simply and
This test method is applicable only for testing coatings that are
quickly in a production operation, the molten solder must
normally readily solderable such as: tin, tin-lead alloy, silver,
readily wet and spread over the surfaces of the products being
and gold.
joined. For this to happen, the surfaces must be clean or be
1.2 This test method is qualitative and broadly applicable. It
soiled only with contaminants that are easily removed by an
is easy to perform and requires only simple equipment. There
appropriate flux. It often is necessary that the flux be only
areothersolderabilitytestsnotcoveredbythistestmethodthat
strong enough to remove the normally occurring soils.Amore
are more applicable to specific situations, yield quantitative
2 aggressive flux may corrode the product and have other
results, or both. Several are described in the literature. This is
harmful effects. Nonactivated rosin in alcohol is the standard
a “go-no-go” test and does not grade solderability as excellent,
flux used in this test method; however, provision is made for
good, fair, and so forth.
the use of other fluxes. Since rosin is a mild flux, it provides
1.3 This standard may involve hazardous materials, opera-
better discrimination between acceptable and unacceptable
tions, and equipment. This standard does not purport to
solderability in marginal cases than do more active fluxes.
address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its
4.2 Metallic coatings are frequently used to provide solder-
use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to
able surfaces. But, an improperly produced coating may not
establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter-
yield the required solderability.There are many coating defects
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
that cause poor solderability including porosity, codeposited
2. Referenced Documents impurities, incorrect thickness, and surface contamination. It
3 maybedifficultorimpracticaltotestacoatingdirectlyforeach
2.1 ASTM Standards:
oftheundesirableconditions.Intheseinstancessolderabilityis
B32 Specification for Solder Metal
tested. Products that pass the solderability test can be expected
D509 Test Methods of Sampling and Grading Rosin
to solder satisfactorily in production. In the case of failure to
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
pass the test, the test results will not reveal the cause of the
3. Summary of Test Method
inadequate solderability, though, with experience, an operator
may be able to identify the cause.
3.1 The specimen to be tested is coated with rosin flux,
4.3 This test method measures the ability of a coated
dipped briefly into molten tin-lead solder, and examined for
product to be soldered with 60/40 tin/lead solder using a
nonactivated rosin flux. This solder and this flux, or an
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeB08onMetallic
activated form of it, are generally used in the assembly of
and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.10 on
Test Methods.
electronic products.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2006. Published December 2006. Originally
4.4 It is intended that the tested specimens be components
approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as B678 – 86 (2001).
of electronic products or articles with the same general shape
DOI: 10.1520/B0678-86R06.
and mass. Articles that are much more massive than this will
Long, J. B., “A Critical Review of Solderability Testing,” in Properties of
Electrodeposits, Their Measurement and Significance, edited by Richard Sard,
heat up too slowly during the solder immersion. If more
Henry Leidheiser, Jr., and Fielding Ogburn, The Electrochemical Society, 1975.
massive specimens are to be tested, a longer immersion time
Harding, W. B., “Solderability Testing,” Plating, Vol 52, No. 10, October 1965,
will have to be used, the time to be determined by experiment.
pp. 971–981.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or 4.5 If the specimen tested is longer than 25 mm, its bottom
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
end will be in the solder for significantly longer than the
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
specified time. Therefore, if the specimen is longer than 25
the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
B678–86 (2006)
mm, the results obtained at the bottom end of the specimen are 8.3 Suspend the specimens in a vessel above boiling water
invalid. This part of the specimen shall be discounted in the andleavethemtherewiththewaterboilingcontinuouslyfor24
evaluation of the results. A second set of tests can be run on h. Keep the vessel covered and assure that the specimens do
additional specimens in which the specimens are only partly not touch the side of the vessel and that the lower edges of the
immersed. These would be used to evaluate the bottom ends. specimens are from 50 to 100 mm above the surface of the
boiling water. Arrange the cover of the vessel and the con-
5. Flux
denser, if used, so that the condensed water does not drip onto
the specimens.
5.1 The flux shall be a 25 6 5 mass % soluti
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