Effect of Copper Sulfate and Sulfuric Acid on Blind Hole Filling of HDI Circuit Boards by Electroplating

Abstract

Here, in a certain high density interconnect (HDI) printed circuit board, the effect of copper sulfate and sulfuric acid on the filling effect of a blind hole with a certain diameter and depth was investigated by making a blind hole using a CO2 laser drilling machine, filling the blind hole via electroplating by simulating the electroplating line in a Halin cell, and observing the cross-section of a micro blind hole after polishing using metallographic microscope, as well as the effect of hole filling, are evaluated. The results show that, under the conditions of a certain plating solution formula and electroplating parameters (current density and electroplating time), the sag degree decreases with the increase in the copper sulfate concentration. When the concentration of copper sulfate increases from 210 g/L to 225 g/L, the filling effect is good and the sag degree is about 0. However, with the increase in sulfuric acid concentration, the sag increases gradually. When the sulfuric acid concentration is 25–35 g/L, both the sag and copper coating thickness are in a small range. Under appropriate electroplating conditions, a better blind hole filling effect can be obtained. The volume of blind hole has a certain effect on the diffusion and exchange of copper sulfate and sulfuric acid, as well as on the concentration distribution of additives.

Keywords

• HDI printed circuit board
• electroplating
• blind hole filling
• sag degree
• copper plating layer