Your Professional OSP PCB Manufacturer in China

PCBMay- Your Outstanding OSP PCB Manufacturer in China

PCBMay is one of the leading OSP PCB manufacturers and suppliers in China. We offer a wide range of PCBs with outstanding surface finish, including:

• OSP (Organic Solderability Preservative)
• HASL
• ENIG (Electroless Nickel Immersion)
• Immersion Tin
• Immersion Silver

It is vital to apply a surface finish (OSP, HASL, ENIG, Immersion Tin, Immersion Silver) for two main reasons. First, to protect exposed copper circuitry. Second, to ensure solderability.

In China, PCBMay is an expert in OSP PCB fabrication and services. We could offer you a suitable surface finish for your following PCB projects. Our PCBs with different surface finishes surpass different industry standards, such as RoHS, WEEE, UL, CE, etc.

Advantage of Organic Solderability Preservative (OSP PCB)

• Lead-free
• Simple process
• Flat surface
• Repairable
• Environmentally-friendly
• Provides a coplanar surface
• Low equipment maintenance

It is an organic, water-based surface finish. It is typically applicable for copper pads. The OSP PCB protects the copper pad and selectively binds to the copper before soldering.

If you’re looking for a reliable PCB with a unique OSP finish, PCBMay, based in China, is your best partner. Our professional and skilled staff manufactures OSP PCBs with high reliability, lead-free, and trouble-free.

OSP PCB from us has become famous in the market for its outstanding and beneficial features. PCBMay offers different surface finishes for your PCB to meet your different needs.

Competitive prices, reliable services, cost-effective products, and 24/7 online support are our advantage. With over ten years of experience, you can guarantee a satisfying OSP PCB that meets international quality standards.

For more information about OSP PCB, don’t hesitate to contact one of our sales representatives.

OSP PCB: The Ultimate FAQ Guide

In the progressing PCB industry, OSP PCB is a very useful one that is getting more popular day by day. Its manufacturing process is pretty simple, so it costs less and is environmentally friendly as well.

PCBMay is one of the most enormous PCB manufacturing companies located in China. Our OSP boards are exported to more than 60 countries worldwide. We produce the best quality, efficient, and durable OSP printed circuit boards.

If you want to gain knowledge about this PCB, this FAQ guide is for you. It contains all features and facts about this PCB.

What Is OSP PCB?

It is a kind of printed circuit board that uses OSP as the surface finish. OSP surface finish is organic and water-based. This surface finish is usually applied on copper pads.

OSP is the abbreviation of Organic Solderability Preservative. OSP surface finish attaches to the copper of the board and prevents the pad of copper prior to soldering. OSP PCB is lead-free, has a coplanar surface, and is environmentally friendly as well.

OSP PCB

This PCB also needs low equipment maintenance. The need for surface finishes in the PCB industry is beyond description. OSP is a low-cost process among all the surface finishing processes of printed circuit boards.

What Are The Materials Of OSP PCB?

It uses some specific materials. Some primary and basic materials of the surface finish are given below.

• Azole
• Active Resin
• Resin

We can apply a protective thin layer of these organic water-based compounds on the copper layer which is exposed. The manufacturer needs to utilize a conveyorized technique in order to get the best efficiency.

The azole family of materials exaggerates water-based chemical compounds like benzotriazoles, imidazoles, and benzimidazoles. They utilize the coordination built in the copper atoms. After that they make the compounds absorbed in the copper surface, thus a protective film is created.

OSP PCB Materials

Here, sunlight exposure is not required. But a moderate temperature and humidity should be maintained for optimal storage requirements.

The standard temperature range is about 15 to 30 degrees. The relative humidity to this temperature is about 30 to 70 percent RH.

The surface finish thickness is determined by the chemical compound used. Benzotriazoles make thin films in OSP PCB. On the other hand, imidazoles make thick films.

And so, we select the chemical compound material of this PCB according to the requirements of the board.

Why Do We Use OSP PCB?

We use OSP PCB when we want our printed circuit board to have good wettability for solderability, a flat surface, and be RoHS compliant. Any other surface finish type does not provide all these features together.

If we want to build an organic coating layer on a clean copper surface, OSP is the best chemical process to attain that. It will also have moisture resistance, heat shock, and anti-oxidation. It will prevent vulcanizing and oxidizing of the OSP PCB as well in the usual environment.

What Are The Applications Of OSP PCB?

It is creating a huge difference in the PCB industry. There is a wide range of applications for this PCB. Some common and basic uses of these printed circuit boards are as follows.

• It is mostly used in fine-pitch devices. Fine-pitch devices best suit this surface finish. The reason behind this is there are uneven surfaces and a lack of coplanar pads.

OSP PCB Applications

• It is used in high-frequency applications as well as in low-end applications. Server boards with high frequency regularly use these PCBs. If the user needs selective finishing, OSP surface finish is a good option as well.
• This is perfect for Surface mount technology or SMT assembly. When a component needs to be directly attached to a board surface, OSP works great in that case. Numerous applications can use it for its wide variety of usability.

What Are The Advantages Of OSP PCB?

The main advantages of an OSP printed circuit board are the easy processing and low cost. This is why the use of OSP PCB is increasing day by day in the PCB industry. Some of the advantages are as follows.

• OSP printed circuit boards are usually pretty easy to maintain and rework. So the manufacturers can repair the coating of the OSP surface finish. It takes less cost and time if the coating gets damaged.
• It provides better performance in connecting pads, vias, and flux. Solder wetting also gives a nice performance in these PCBs.
• OSP printed circuit boards are environmentally friendly as well. The reason behind is its water-based compound application. It is a green electronic product that involves green regulations.
• The board assembly process is less complex. The chemical compounds implementation process is pretty easy too. You do not need solder mask ink with most chemical compounds of OSP board.

Advantages Of OSP PCB

But opposite to that, some specific chemical compounds need to be mixed with a little solder mask ink.

• Its storage time requirement is long. We implement both the double-sided and single-sided SMT prototype assembly in the printed circuit board.

What Are The Disadvantages Of OSP PCB?

There are disadvantages of OSP PCB as well. The main one is its sensitivity to mechanical damage. It needs to be handled carefully.

OSP surface finish is usually transparent and colorless, so it is quite difficult to inspect. You can virtually inspect the OSP surface finish either as it is impossible. Water drops can easily decompose the OSP finish very fast.

Disadvantages Of OSP PCB

The users and manufacturers need to use gloves while handling the printed circuit boards with OSP surface finish. Another disadvantage is the variety of the OSP boards recipes and actual performance.

The protective film is very fragile. It is usually likely to get scratches and bruises. The users and manufacturers need to manipulate and transport the films very gently.

If the plate of an OSP film is unwelded, it can easily change color or crack. It affects the weldability and reliability of the printed circuit board. There are other disadvantages of these boards as well.

Some common disadvantages are as follows.

• OSP causes ICT Issues.
• OSP has a short shelf-life.
• They are highly sensitive.
• They are not good for Plated Through-Holes.
• Thickness measuring of the OSP board is very difficult.
• There is exposed copper on the final board assembly.

How Does OSP PCB Work?

It has a surface treatment of copper foil. It uses an organic water-based compound that vulcanizes and oxidizes which follows RoHS instructions in the usual environment. Being made of organic compounds, it permanently protects the board from copper oxidation.

The organic surface finish coating also allows the board to easily remove flux while soldering. It also lessens the soldering time of the board.

The manufacturer also implements topographical enhancement in OSP PCB. Micro etching speed is another important factor of the OSP boards as it strengthens the bonds. The standard speed of micro-etching is 1µm to 1.5µm per minute.

It does not use any toxins in the fabrication process. It makes the boards pretty environmentally friendly. It is also very protective and free from anti-corrosive properties.

These PCBs are RoHS compliant because they do not contain any harmful chemicals. It has a water-based finish that makes the surface flat. The flat surface can easily attach additional components of the PCB.

It works in a pretty simple way but the process is very delicate. The boards are extremely sensitive so you need to handle them very carefully. Watch the following video.

How Do You Design An OSP PCB?

Designingan OSP PCB is as important. The whole functionality, durability, longevity, and efficiency of the board depends on the designing process. The designing process includes the following steps, there are rinses before proceeding with the next step.

● Cleaning

You need to add cleaning in the designing procedure of the OSP printed circuit board. The copper surface should be clean of fingerprints and oils. You should also get rid of any other contaminants disturbing the applied finish flatness.

● Topography Enhancement

The manufacturer will run micro-etching on the copper surface that is exposed. It will help to strengthen the connection between the OSP surface finish and the board. It will help to reduce oxidation of the board as well.

You need to keep running the micro-etching at a harmonious speed in order to get the adequate thickness of the film.

Designing Process Of OSP PCB

● Acid Rinse

The manufacturer should run the OSP circuit board in an acid rinse. The acid rinse should be of sulfuric acid solution.

● OSP Application

At this step of the design, the manufacturer applies the OSP solution to the printed circuit board.

● Deionization Rinse

The OSP surface finish solution is charged with ions. These ions allow the board for easy reduction while soldering. The manufacturer should use the rinse before preservatives are built on the board.

This rinse also helps to prevent oxidation of the board caused by other ions present in the OSP surface finish solution.

● Dry

After the manufacturer applies the OSP surface finish to the board, the printed circuit board needs to be dried.

What Is The Manufacturing Process Of OSP PCB?

The manufacturing process of OSP PCB is pretty delicate. The manufacturing process combines the following procedures.

● Oil Removal

The oil removal process effect of this PCB directly controls the film formation quality. If the oil removal isn’t done properly, it causes the uneven thickness of the film. The manufacturer can control the concentration in this process of oil removal by studying the solution.

On the other hand, the manufacturer can check if the result of the oil removal is satisfactory. They can also replace the effect in time if the result of the oil removal is not satisfactory.

● Micro-corrosion

We do micro-corrosion to build a crude copper surface. A crude copper surface helps to form the film. The micro-corrosion thickness directly influences the rate of film formation.

The manufacturer needs to maintain the micro-corrosion thickness stability in order to get a stable thickness of the film. The standard thickness of micro-corrosion is between 1.0um to 1.5um. It is necessary to keep the thickness within this range.

You can measure the rate of micro-corrosion before every production. You can also determine the time required for the micro-corrosion depending on the rate of micro-corrosion.

Manufacturing Process Of OSP PCB

● Film Formation

The manufacturer should use DI washing after and before forming the film for better functionality. They should also maintain the PH in a range between 4.0 and 7.0. It will protect the film-forming solution from contamination.

It is very important to maintain the anti-oxidation film thickness of this PCB. The thickness easily affects the performance of the welding. We should keep the film thickness in a range of 0.2-0.5um.

It should be mentioned that the thinner the film gets, the PCB has the poorer capacity for thermal shock.

What Is The Storage Requirement Of OSP PCB?

OSP PCB surface finish is usually pretty thin. You need to take extra care when the board is being transported or it is in operation. If the OSP is open to humidity or the outer atmosphere, it can oxidize the surface or even damage it.

There are consequences as well like the board’s functionality or the assembly process. The manufacturer needs to follow some rules during the transportation process or storage process. Some solutions are given below.

• The manufacturer needs to make sure that the OSP surface finish is not exposed to direct sunlight. There are some standard requirements for OSP circuit boards. The temperature should be between 15 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius. 30-60%RH should be the rate of relative humidity. And definitely, the storage time has to be less than approximately 12 hours.
• The manufacturer can take vacuum packaging as an ultimate solution. The PCB should be restricted from friction. The manufacturer can supply a release paper in between the boards to avoid friction.

Storage Requirement Of OSP PCB

You also need to be very careful in the assembly process as the board fabrication process is very fragile. To achieve the storage requirements, you should put attention to every minor detail as consequently, it can influence the board parts and cost.

How Do You Get The Best Efficiency Of OSP PCB?

To get the best efficiency of OSP PCB, the manufacturer can follow some measures during the manufacturing process. The process will make sure the appearance and performance of the printed circuit board. The measures that can be taken are as follows.

• The manufacturer needs to control the micro etching amount. The micro etching amount should be in a standard range.
• The manufacturer also needs to maintain the OSP layer thickness in a standard range. The OSP layer thickness in the PCB is very important.
• The manufacturer needs to make sure that there are no deposits of residuals on the OSP surface finish. The reason is deposits of residuals on the PCB affect the boards’ performance and efficiency.

OSP PCB Efficiency

How Do You Measure The Thickness Of OSP PCB?

The thickness of OSP PCB is a very crucial fact. The reason is that the thickness directly affects the boards’ performance. The usual thickness of OSP PCB is 0.2um – 0.65um.

But it is difficult to measure the thickness of an OSP PCB. The reason behind this is the film is transparent and very thin. You can not easily visualize the OSP surface finish.

Thickness Of OSP PCB

As the thickness of the film is extremely thin, you can not get the effect of not protecting the surface finish at ease. And you can possibly weld the board because the thickness of the film is too thin.

What Is The Thermal Stability Of OSP PCB?

It has great thermal stability. Its thermal stability is higher compared with other surface finishes. OSP printed circuit boards provide good performance in applications in terms of thermal stability.

Thermal Stability Of OSP PCB

It does not face any protective film damage if you reheat it at 235℃. It does not face any surface oxidation as well heated at this temperature. This higher thermal stability makes the OSP PCB function more efficiently and provides more durability.

How Do You Compare OSP PCB To ENIG?

Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold or ENIG is a very popular high-quality surface finish. If you want to compare OSP PCB to ENIG, there are some basic features that differ from each other as well as some similar features.

ENIG PCB is RoHS compliant, and so is OSP PCB. Both of the surface finishes provide flat surfaces. And the solderability of both the PCBs is pretty good.

But, the ENIG surface finish contains an aluminum wire bond whereas the OSP one does not. OSP PCB costs the lowest. On the other hand, ENIG surface finish on a PCB costs the highest.

ENIG Surface Finish

In terms of shelf life, ENIG PCB has a shelf life of over a year. But the shelf life of OSP PCB is less. OSP PCB shelf life is between 6 to 11 months.

If you consider the popularity of the surface finishes, ENIG PCB is very popular in the PCB industry. On the other hand, OSP PCBs are not so popular.

How Do You Compare OSP PCB To HASL?

Hot Air Solder Leveling or HASL is another very popular surface finish in the PCB world. Compared to OSP PCB, there are some similarities and some differences as well. The differences are more than the similarities.

OSP surface finish is RoHS compliant but HASL is not unless it is lead-free. OSP PCBs have flat surfaces but the HASL ones do not. The solderability of the HASL PCB is the best whereas OSP boards are good to say.

HASL Surface Finish

HASL surface finish has a long shelf life of over a year. But OSP surface finishes only last 6 to 11 months. In terms of popularity, HASL PCB is very popular compared to OSP PCB.

But the cost of both the HASL and OSP surface finishes is low. Both of them do not have an aluminum wire bond as well. Watch the following video.

Is OSP PCB Environment Friendly?

It is very environment-friendly. It uses organic components for the fabrication process.

OSP is the short form of Organic Solderability Preservative. It is made of organic materials for surface finishing. The commonly used components are deionized water, cupric chloride, organic acid, alkyl benzimidazole, etc.

 OSP PCB In the Environment

The OSP PCB applications are increasing day by day to reduce the cost and save the environment. OSP board applications are the mainstream as protecting the environment is our main priority. The OSP board has a great impact on reducing the environmental pollution.

OSP printed circuit boards are extremely green environmentally compared with the other surface finishes. Other surface finishes either consume higher energy substantially or are a lot more toxic.

What Is The Cost Of OSP PCB?

It is the cheapest of them all. OSP surface finish reacts with bare copper to make a uniform, thin, and non-sticky protective film. It costs less than all other chemicals of surface mounts.

Cost Of OSP PCB

Its manufacturing process is pretty simple and the fabrication process is very cheap. It may differ from one manufacturer to another because of the difference in chemical use and customization.

How Do You Choose The Right Manufacturer Of OSP PCB?

Look for experience to choose the right manufacturer of OSP PCB. If the manufacturer has worked before in your field of application. As well as they should have advanced knowledge of what they are working on.

Manufacturer Of OSP PCB

As the manufacturing process is pretty delicate, the company should use smart and modern technologies. They should provide customization services for the best efficiency. Visit the area of the manufacturing company if possible.

Cleanliness must be maintained. The manufacturing company should also have some international certificates for their products.

Conclusion

If you want a high-quality and cost-effective surface finish for your printed circuit board, OSP PCB is arguably the best solution for you. If you have gone through the whole article, most facts about OSP PCB are explained here.

If you want to learn more about these PCBs or our services, feel free to contact us at any time. We are always here for you.