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CARBON BLACK DISPERSION PRE-PLATING TECHNOLOGY FOR PRINTED WIRE BOARD MANUFACTURING
Citation:
Battelle. CARBON BLACK DISPERSION PRE-PLATING TECHNOLOGY FOR PRINTED WIRE BOARD MANUFACTURING. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-93/201 (NTIS 94-114790), 1993.
Description:
This evaluation addresses the product quality, waste reduction, and economic issues involved in replacing electroless copper with a carbon black dispersion technology. McCurdy Circuits of Orange County, California, currently has both processes in operation. McCurdy has found that the product quality achieved with each process is equal. Sampling and analysis of the wastestreams and estimation of bath usage through this project has determined that the carbon black dispersion produces fewer quantities of waste. With this technology, rinse water usage is reduced from 13.8 gal per ft2 to 1.72 gal per ft2 of printed wire board surface. The total solids contained in the rinse water is reduced from 23,800 mg/ft2 to 4,500 mg/ft2 of board surface. Carbon black dispersion also eliminates some specific hazards resulting from the electroless copper technology, i.e., the use of formaldehyde and complexed copper. An economic analysis determined that the new process is cost efficient due to reduced chemical usage and a more efficient process. The payback period is less than 4 years for purchase of the system tested in this study. The new carbon black dispersion process was found to be a viable alternative to electroless copper. This report was submitted in partial fulfillment of Contract Number 68-CO-0003, Work Assignment 2-36, under the sponsorship of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This report covers the period from January 1991 to September 30, 1992, and work was completed as of September 30, 1992.