TWI aids in product development

Surface mount PCB

Typical surface mount PCB. (Courtesy Wireline Technologies Ltd)


Bore hole data loggers are required to operate at temperatures around 150°C and withstand storage at -40°C with high levels of shock/vibration loading. These conditions place considerable demands on the solder joints of the monitoring/signal processing printed circuit boards (PCBs) within them. Pressure to reduce bore hole size and increase logger functionality demands smaller electronic packing using surface mounted devices (SMDs); these have inherently smaller/weaker solder joints.

Wireline Technologies Ltd was engaged in a new product development programme and was concerned to ensure the highest reliability for the new SMD PCBs. A Product and Process Review followed by a Feasibility Study was undertaken by TWI through the Joining Forces programme. The company was advised on possible choices for solders and PCB materials/finishes and subsequently set up in-house trials to evaluate various materials, including those recommended by TWI.

Survey tool

Survey tool. (Courtesy Wireline Technologies Ltd)


Once sufficient testing had been done to identify statistically reliable trends, TWI was asked to analyse samples of failed materials. This analysis was performed using x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy and helped confirm the nature and cause of the failures thereby assisting Wireline Technologies to choose the most appropriate materials for their application.

Information and advice from TWI and its partners are provided in good faith and based, where appropriate, on the best engineering knowledge available at the time and incorporated into TWI's website in accordance with TWI's ISO 9001:2000 accredited status. No warranty expressed or implied is given regarding the results or effects of applying information or advice obtained from the website, nor is any responsibility accepted for any consequential loss or damage.