TFA9881 All information provided in this document is subject to legal disclaimers. © NXP B.V. 2013. All rights reserved.
Product data sheet Rev. 3 — 23 April 2013 26 of 32
NXP Semiconductors
TFA9881
3.4 W PDM input class-D audio amplifier
15. Soldering of WLCSP packages
15.1 Introduction to soldering WLCSP packages
This text provides a very brief insight into a complex technology. A more in-depth account
of soldering WLCSP (Wafer Level Chip-Size Packages) can be found in application note
AN10439 “Wafer Level Chip Scale Package” and in application note AN10365 “Surface
mount reflow soldering description”.
Wave soldering is not suitable for this package.
All NXP WLCSP packages are lead-free.
15.2 Board mounting
Board mounting of a WLCSP requires several steps:
1. Solder paste printing on the PCB
2. Component placement with a pick and place machine
3. The reflow soldering itself
15.3 Reflow soldering
Key characteristics in reflow soldering are:
• Lead-free versus SnPb soldering; note that a lead-free reflow process usually leads to
higher minimum peak temperatures (see Figure 21
) than a PbSn process, thus
reducing the process window
• Solder paste printing issues, such as smearing, release, and adjusting the process
window for a mix of large and small components on one board
• Reflow temperature profile; this profile includes preheat, reflow (in which the board is
heated to the peak temperature), and cooling down. It is imperative that the peak
temperature is high enough for the solder to make reliable solder joints (a solder paste
characteristic) while being low enough that the packages and/or boards are not
damaged. The peak temperature of the package depends on package thickness and
volume and is classified in accordance with Table 19
.
Moisture sensitivity precautions, as indicated on the packing, must be respected at all
times.
Studies have shown that small packages reach higher temperatures during reflow
soldering, see Figure 21
.
Table 19. Lead-free process (from J-STD-020D)
Package thickness (mm) Package reflow temperature (C)
Volume (mm
3
)
< 350 350 to 2000 > 2000
< 1.6 260 260 260
1.6 to 2.5 260 250 245
> 2.5 250 245 245
