Launchpad, September - October 2003
For a full list of proposed, active and closed projects see here
Pb-free solder reliability in long life high reliability applications
Launched: September 2003
Cost per sponsor: £25 000 pa, two payments
Project Leader: Simon Mason
Electronics and electrical manufacturers are in the process of going through one of the most radical changes in technology the industry has experienced. Legislative, regulatory and market pressures will force the majority of the industry to change its primary interconnect technology from the lead based solder alloys it has been using for more than 50 years to lead-free alloys. This change must take place by 2006 for consumer products sold in Europe and in Japan companies are targeting 2003. These new lead-free alloys may have a fundamental effect on the reliability of long life, high reliability components and systems. This project will develop a clear understanding of the issues relating to the use of lead-free alloys for long life and high reliability products and, through the development of testing and modelling, will predict the influence of these changes on product life.
Evaluation of high power fibre lasers and their performance
To be launched: October 2003
Cost per sponsor: £10 000
Project Leader: Rob Scudamore
High power fibre lasers are a new laser source incorporating high wall plug efficiencies and high beam quality with powers currently up to 10kW. This work aims to evaluate the effectiveness of these lasers as welding processing tools and to provide sector specific outline welding procedures for demonstration purposes. The benefits to industry from the adoption of this technology are reduced operating costs, increased processing speeds or penetration and the capability of processing at high power using a single source, fibre delivered laser.
