Recommended Reflow Profile
MAX 260C
255
R3
R4
230
217
200
180
R2
60 sec to 90 sec
Above 217 C
150
R5
R1
120
80
25
0
100
150
200
250
300
50
P1
HEAT
UP
P3
SOLDER
REFLOW
P4
COOL DOWN
t-TIME
(SECONDS)
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
ꢀ°C/s
Solder Paste Dry
Solder Reflow
100s to 180s
Pꢀ, Rꢀ
Pꢀ, R4
200°C to 260°C
260°C to 200°C
ꢀ°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
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 co-
alescing of the solder paste into liquid solder and the
formation of good solder connections. Beyond the rec-
ommended 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.
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 tem-
perature change rates or duration. The DT/Dtime rates or
duration are detailed in the above table. The tempera-
tures 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 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.
Process zone P2 should be of sufficient time duration
(100 to 180 seconds) to dry the solder paste. The temper-
ature is raised to a level just below the liquidus point of
the solder.
It is recommended to perform reflow soldering no more
than twice.
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