Microvia Electroplating

Unlock the secrets to reliable microvia fabrication with our comprehensive Microvia Electroplating course. Led by industry expert Dr. Despina (DD) Davis, this course dives deep into the essential techniques and best practices for electroplating in high-density interconnects. Over four weeks, you'll explore the intricacies of plating quality, current calculations, copper kinetics, and pulse plating schemes. Gain hands-on experience with practical case studies and troubleshooting methods to enhance your skills and ensure the reliability of your microvias. Join us online and gaina thorough understanding of:

  • Calculating plating currents based on Faraday’s Equation.
  • Calculating Current Efficiency.
  • Designing pulse plating schemes for double sided simultaneous plating.
  • Troubleshooting why recipes do not match theoretical values. 
  • Improving copper plating uniformity alternatives. 
  • Understanding effects of mass transport/diffusion on Microvia Plating → non-steady state process. 
Member Price
$700.00
Non-member Price
$935.00
Access
90 Days From Enrollment
Class Schedule

  • Course Level: Intermediate

  • Training Time

    4 weeks (8 two-hour online instructor-led sessions)

  • Certificate of Completion

  • Seasonal Enrollment

    Access for 90 Days

Questions

Need to know more? Send us your questions and we'll get you an answer.

Download the syllabus.

WEEK 1 – THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

  • Potential (voltage) differences, Electromotive Force (EFM)
  • Electrochemical cells 
  • Thermodynamics and Nernst Equation 
  • Electrical double layer @ electrode interface 
  • Faraday’s Law 
  • Current efficiency 
  • Reference electrodes 
  • Coulometry, voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry 
  • Impedance, Nyquist plots & electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
  • Instrumentation (voltmeters, potentiostats, galvanostats, function generators) 

WEEK 2 – MICROVIA COPPER PLATING

  • Why copper electro-plating? Why electrodeposition as the method of choice? 
  • Discuss copper conductivity & resistivity implications 
  • Copper plating kinetics and reaction mechanism 
  • Electroplating currents calculation vs. Side-reactions currents → Efficiency monitoring
  • Plating Techniques → Pulse plating schemes recipes & uniformity vs. DC plating
  • Japanese paddle cell design
  • Copper bath types
  • Copper bath aging & analysis

WEEK 3 – MICROVIA CASE STUDY 1 & 2

  • Microvia Case Study 1 (Lessons Learned) 
  • Copper Analysis Techniques: crystal structure, SEM, resistivity, stress 
  • Plating Equipment: Anodes, Heaters, Level sensors, Pumps, E-ductors vs. Spargers, Power Supply (Rectifier Capabilities & Settings), Connectors (crimp vs. solder), Bath Maintenance (carbon filtering, analysis, adjustments, re-analysis). Bath dumping schedule/Decanting) 
  • Microvia Case Study 2 (Lessons Learned)

WEEK 4 – REVIEW & FINAL EXAM 

Class session will focus on content review, questions and final exam. 
Session 1 will be review. Session 2 will be final exam.

FINAL EXAM: 

  • Complete final exam during Session 2 or a defined exam time during the last week of the course.
  • Completion of the program with a score of 70% or higher on the final exam and/or final project is required to earn a certificate of completion.
  • Attempts allowed: 2. Grading method: Highest grade.
     

This program is designed to provide PCB fabricators that work in the electroplating area with a balanced foundation of theoretical knowledge and practical skills to handle jobs that require Microvia Plating.

IPC offers different instructional modalities to suit participants with different needs and preferences. This program is only available in the following modality:

Online-instructor-led: Participants go online to meet with an IPC-certified industry expert at a fixed time twice per week for the duration of the course. Class sessions are usually 1.5 to 2 hours. Participants can also access a video recording of each class session on their IPC EDGE course dashboard.

Dr. Despina (DD) Davis is an Electrochemical (International) Society recognized Boeing PWB Design Subject Matter Expert, Dr. Despina Davis with 20 years of experience in the field and multiple highly rated publications. View her LinkedIn profile for more information.