Recommended Reflow Profile
MAX 260C
255
R3
R4
230
217
200
R2
180
60 sec to 90 sec
Above 217 C
150
R5
R1
120
80
25
0
100
150
200
P3
SOLDER
REFLOW
250
P4
COOL DOWN
300
t-TIME
(SECONDS)
50
P1
HEAT
UP
P2
SOLDER PASTE DRY
Maximum DT/Dtime
Process Zone
Heat Up
Symbol
DT
or Duration
P1, R1
P2, R2
25°C to 150°C
150°C to 200°C
3°C/s
Solder Paste Dry
Solder Reflow
100s to 180s
P3, R3
P3, R4
200°C to 260°C
260°C to 200°C
3°C/s
-6°C/s
Cool Down
P4, R5
200°C to 25°C
> 217°C
260°C
-6°C/s
60s to 90s
-
Time maintained above liquidus point , 217°C
Peak Temperature
Time within 5°C of actual Peak Temperature
Time 25°C to Peak Temperature
-
20s to 40s
8mins
25°C to 260°C
The reflow profile is a straight-line representation of a nominal temperature profile for a convective reflow solder
process. The temperature profile is divided into four process zones, each with different DT/Dtime temperature change
rates or duration. The DT/Dtime rates or duration are detailed in the above table. The temperatures are measured at
the component to printed circuit board connections.
In process zone P1, the PC board and component pins are heated to a temperature of 150°C to activate the flux in the
solder paste. The temperature ramp up rate, R1, is limited to 3°C per second to allow for even heating of both the PC
board and component pins.
Process zone P2 should be of sufficient time duration (100 to 180 seconds) to dry the solder paste. The temperature is
raised to a level just below the liquidus point of the solder.
Process zone P3 is the solder reflow zone. In zone P3, the temperature is quickly raised above the liquidus point of
solder to 260°C (500°F) for optimum results. The dwell time above the liquidus point of solder should be between 60
and 90 seconds. This is to assure proper coalescing of the solder paste into liquid solder and the formation of good
solder connections. Beyond the recommended dwell time the intermetallic growth within the solder connections
becomes excessive, resulting in the formation of weak and unreliable connections. The temperature is then rapidly
reduced to a point below the solidus temperature of the solder to allow the solder within the connections to freeze
solid.
Process zone P4 is the cool down after solder freeze. The cool down rate, R5, from the liquidus point of the solder
to 25°C (77°F) should not exceed 6°C per second maximum. This limitation is necessary to allow the PC board and
component pins to change dimensions evenly, putting minimal stresses on the component.
It is recommended to perform reflow soldering no more than twice.
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