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PCB007 Magazine: The Essential Guide to Surface Finishes—March 2025
March 17, 2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: Less than a minute

The Essential Guide to Surface Finishes
Corrosion, adhesion, bonding—the comprehensive issue of surface finish plating is a primary one for printed circuit board manufacturers and their assembly counterparts with gold as the “gold standard” for many applications. But gold is expensive, and it has its limits.
In the March 2025 issue of PCB007 Magazine, we compare and contrast surface finishes by type and application, taking a hard look at the many iterations of gold plating as a longtime standard and as palladium as a surface finish. We also take another look at a compelling additive manufacturing metallization product and technology. We go back to basics, recount a little history, and look forward to addressing the many challenges that high density, high frequency, adhesion, SI, and corrosion concerns for harsh environments bring to the fore.
Suggested Items
Gold as a Key Component in PCBs and IC Substrates
03/20/2025 | Britta Schafsteller, Sandra Nelle, and Kuldip Johal, MKS' AtotechGold has long been a cornerstone in the electronics industry, particularly in the surface finishing of PCBs and IC substrates. It provides essential surface protection while enabling various assembling techniques, such as soldering connections and wire bonding, using aluminum, gold, or copper wires.
SAMI-AEC Earns Gold Membership Under “Made in Saudi” Program
03/19/2025 | SAMISAMI Advanced Electronics Company (SAMI-AEC) proudly announces its elevation to the prestigious Gold Category within the “Made in Saudi” program.
ICT Spring Seminar: Nickel Not Welcome Here
03/12/2025 | Pete Starkey, I-Connect007After a miserable, dull, and damp English winter, a really pleasant nearly spring day with the sun shining and daffodils in bloom greeted delegates to the Institute of Circuit Technology Spring Seminar at Puckrup Hall near Tewkesbury, March 5, in Gloucestershire, UK.
Indium Expert to Present on Gold Solder Solutions for Medical Applications at IMAPS 2025 Workshop
02/26/2025 | Indium CorporationIndium Corporation Senior Product Specialist Jason Farrell will deliver a technical presentation at the IMAPS Advanced Packaging for Medical Microelectronics Workshop, taking place March 5-7 in Phoenix Arizona.
Connect the Dots: Designing for Reality—Surface Finish
01/29/2025 | Matt Stevenson -- Column: Connect the DotsIn the previous episode of I-Connect007’s On the Line with… podcast, we discussed the solder mask and legend process, one of the final steps in the PCB manufacturing process. The board is nearly complete. We just need to wrap up production by applying a surface finish to protect the copper from oxidation and facilitate soldering components onto the board.