The electrical performance, reliability and service life of electronic components on a printed circuit board depend on the quality of surface finishes.
PCB finish coatings are metallic or organic coatings required to protect the copper surface and improve solderability. The goal is to protect the PCB from dirt and moisture while maintaining a consistently low contact resistance over the life of the PCB.
PCB surface treatments can be varied, including hot air solder leveling, immersion gold, immersion silver, a combination of electrolytic palladium, electrolytic nickel and immersion gold plating, etc. To ensure reliability, efficiency and the best possible protection of electronic components, it is important to understand the board surface treatment process and keep up to date with the latest advances in the field.