Ames
Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, IowaAmes
Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, Iowa
Release date: Dec. 16, 1997
Contacts: Iver
Anderson, 515-294-4446
Steve Karsjen,
515-294-5643
AMES, Iowa -- A new lead-free solder alloy developed by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Ames Laboratory at Iowa State University (ISU) could soon become an integral component in electronics equipment sold worldwide.
Multicore Solders, a European-based company with a major manufacturing plant in Texas, has signed a licensing agreement to produce and market lead-free solder based on an Ames Laboratory patented composition. Multicore is a world leader in the development and manufacture of solder paste, wire and bars. The company's main customers are in the electronics industry, who use solder for joining processes in products such as cellular phones, televisions, VCRs and calculators, to name a few. Multicore also provides solder to the automotive industry for use on products such as electronic circuit boards for sensors and engine control computers.
"Multicore's strong technology base and marketing reach are the exciting things about this licensing agreement," says Iver Anderson, Ames Laboratory metallurgist and the leader of the team that developed the lead-free solder alloy. "The company has amazing access to the electronics solder market, which is a booming market at this time. They want to push worldwide acceptance of lead-free solder."
The lead-free solder developed by Anderson and a team of Ames Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratory scientists is made from an alloy of tin, silver and copper, and was developed partially in response to the growing trend to discontinue the use of tin-lead solder, which is currently the industry norm. The lead in tin-lead solder is toxic and poses a human health hazard.
Eliminating an environmental hazard is only one advantage of Ames Laboratory's new lead-free solder alloy. In addition, the alloy ingredients are widely available, the solder is easy to use, is stronger and stands up better in high-heat conditions, such as those found under the hood of an automobile. "It's going to be a more reliable solder than leaded solders, especially the tin-lead solder," says Anderson, who is currently working with Ford and General Motors in an industry/lab/university consortium to identify high-temperature solders for automotive applications.
"Multicore Solders is very impressed by Ames Laboratory's initiative in developing lead-free solder," says Gordon Arbib, chief executive of Multicore. "We look forward to the opportunity of introducing it through our worldwide manufacturing and sales organization."
The agreement with Multicore is the second licensing agreement to be signed for lead-free solder. The first agreement was signed in May 1995 with Johnson Manufacturing, an Iowa-based company that produces solder wire and ingots for industrial applications, such as compressors, heat exchangers and radiators. With Johnson Manufacturing servicing industrial needs and Multicore Solders marketing to the electronics industry, Anderson feels customers will have unlimited access to lead-free solder at any time. "In industry it's critical that there be more than one source for a product," says Anderson. "I feel this latest agreement helps form a strategic alliance critical to addressing the needs of industry."
Despite the success Anderson has had with tin-silver-copper-based solder, his efforts to continually improve lead-free solder have not slowed. Recent developments are currently in the process of being patented and will be part of the licensing agreements with Multicore Solders and Johnson Manufacturing.
Ames Laboratory is operated for the DOE by ISU. The Laboratory conducts research in various areas of national concern, including energy resources, high-speed computing design, and the study and synthesis of new materials.
Last revision: 4/17/98 sd
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