Hi Chris!
I hope this will help you! The CBGA uses an array of high melting point solder spheres(Sn10/Pb90) to connect its ceramic chip carrier to an epoxy glass (FR4) PCB using eutectic (Sn63/Pb37) solder joints at both ceramic and card interfaces. The solder shpere is nominally 0.89 mm in diameter and provides a noncollapsing standoff after board assembly. This package range from 14 to 3.25mm. The usable range of a CBGA is determined by the fatigue life of the eutectic solder joint, which in turn is affected by the size of the CBGA sphere array, the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the attached card, the temperature extremes the environment and system and the number of on/off cycles. All but the latter affect strain on the solder joint. This means that most problem occurs in CBGA will depend on the solderability of the joint. While PBGA solder joint has a potential reliability problem because the balls are near eutectic solder, the whole balls becomes liquid in the standard surface mount reflow process. One of the common problem of PBGA is voids, this was due to the flux tends to stay within the molten solder that causes voids. Another is CBGA is not moisture sensitive while PBGA is moisture sensitive that pre-baking process will be needed if packages were not consumed for 24 to 48 hours after removal from the pack. Pre-baking condition is 125degC for 24 hrs. Therefore Chris, the problem, its either CBGA or PBGA package you are going to use in your project or design, basically, based on the requirement/application (CBGA is for high temp application) it will always depend on your process capability. If your process is robust, well controlled, definitely you can eliminate those type of problems. Bye!!!
Philip
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