On PCBs with a lot of copper pads, ENIG (Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold) plating is used. The primary function of the PCB boards is to provide power to the many electrical components that are attached to them. It comes with two layers of full metallic coating on the ENIG PCB plating PCB copper pads have a nickel and gold covering on the first layer. The gold layer protects the nickel layer.
Because the ENIG plating provides great electrical conductivity to the board, these copper pads are mostly plated with ENIG. They also contribute to improved oxidation resistance. Because ENIG plating complies with RoHS, the majority of clients utilize it despite the fact that it is unusually expensive and difficult to understand when compared to other plating options. ENIG plating on PCBs requires a temperature of 80 degrees Celsius.
ENIG PCB plating’s greatest benefits:
ENIG plating has a simple process structure compared to any other plating of copper pads on PCBs: this is the most significant benefit of ENIG plating PC. ENIG PCB finishing is performed by a machine-driven natural process.
- Best plating quality
When compared to other PCB plating methods like HASL and ENEPIG, the ENIG PCB’s plating quality is the best. Because of the metals utilized in the coating, this product has a high level of quality. When the contact resistance is high, the Nickel functions as a barrier to prevent copper pads from coming into touch with the Gold.
- Electroplating is not required for ENIG
In contrast to other PCB plating methods, ENIG does not need electroplating. The ENIG’s corrosion-resistant qualities have made it a popular choice. Plating made of gold is the only one that is resistant to corrosion and does not need electroplating because of its outer layer of gold.
Corrosion-free plating is a common claim for plating that does not have a gold coating on the outer layer. Corrosion-resistant plating cannot be achieved with any plating that does not have a gold thin layer coating on the outer layer.
- A lead-free ENIG PCB may be found on the market.
The ENIG PCB is devoid of lead, which is a vital consideration in any PCB design. In most PCBs, the outer layer includes lead, which is exposed to various dangerous compounds when they are utilized on the ground. There are no lead-exposed surfaces on ENIG PCBs, which is why they are extremely long-lasting.
- Durability over a long length of time
Most ENIG PCBs come with a long-life warranty, which typically lasts 12 or 10 months. Having a 12- to 10-month warranty on a PCB indicates that it is constructed with high-quality components. ENIG is the most lasting plating for PCBs because of its materials, metals, and other properties.
Conclusion
Customers continue to use ENIG PCBs despite the fact that they are more expensive than conventional PCBs. This is due to the fact that customers are aware that ENIG plating always uses high-quality materials and that customers’ chances of discovering PCBs are significantly reduced by using ENIG PCBs.