Technical Data Sheet
TINGLO CULMO™ Bright Acid Tin
Electroplating (with Starter/Brightener 2.5X)
For Electronic Finishing Applications
Regional Product • North America
Availability
Description The TINGLO CULMO™ Process offers extremely bright tin deposits with
excellent solderability and ductility, capable of meeting the requirements for
electronic, industrial and decorative applications. The process is distinguished by
its stability, economy, ease of operation and exceptional throwing power.
Advantages • Bright, levelled deposit
• Good solderability after long periods of storage
• Relatively non-porous deposit
• Meets Mil T-10727A for corrosion protection (salt spray)
• Economy and ease of use
Deposit Properties Solderability: Excellent
Shelf Life: Excellent
Hardness: 8–9 HV25
Density: 7.31 g/cm3
Electrical Conductivity (AG=100): 13.0
Heat Conductivity (AG=100): 15.0
Melting Point: 233°C (451°F)
3
Electrical Resistivity: 11.5 microhm-cm
Bath Make-Up Bath Make-Up
Chemicals Required Metric (U.S.)
Deionized (D.I.) Water 750 mL/L (75% v/v)
Sulfuric Acid 100 mL/L (10% v/v)
Stannous Sulfate 30 g/L (4.0 oz./gal.)
TINGLO CULMO™ Starter (2.5X) 40 mL/L (4% v/v)
Make-Up Procedure 1. Add D.I. water to a clean tank.
2. Slowly add sulfuric acid with good agitation.
Caution: Use extreme care when handling sulfuric acid. Always add acid to
water with constant mixing during addition. The reaction is exothermic
(generates heat) and temperatures may exceed 70°C (158°F). If this
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occurs, stop addition and allow temperatures to drop below 50°C (120°F)
before recommencing.
3. In a separate container, mix small portions of the required amount
of stannous sulfate with D.I. water into a slurry. Add slurry to the
tank and mix until completely dissolved.
4. Allow solution to cool to below 24°C (75°F).
5. Add TINGLO CULMO™ Starter (2.5X) and mix thoroughly.
6. Dilute to final volume with D.I. water and mix thoroughly.
Operating Parameters—Metric
Component Range Recommended
Tin Metal 10.0–25.0 g/L 15.0 g/L
Sulfuric Acid 85.0–110.0 mL/L 100.0 mL/L
TINGLO CULMO™ Starter (2.5X) 20–40 mL/L 40 mL/L
Temperature 15–30°C
Cathode Current Density 0.1–4.0
2
Anode Current Density 0.2–2.5
2
Agitation Continuous cathode rod parallel to the anodes
Cathode Efficiency 95–100%
Deposition Rate 1 micron per minute at 2 A/dm based on
2
100% cathode efficiency
Operating Parameters—U.S.
Component Range Recommended
Tin Metal 1.3–3.3 oz./gal. 2.0 oz./gal.
Sulfuric Acid 8.5–11.0% v/v 10.0% v/v
TINGLO CULMO™ Starter (2.5X) 2.0–4.0% v/v 4.0% v/v
Temperature 60–85°F
Cathode Current Density 1–40
2
Anode Current Density 2–25
2
Agitation Continuous cathode rod parallel to the anodes
Cathode Efficiency 95–100%
Deposition Rate 40 micro inches per minute at 20 A/ft
2
based on 100% cathode efficiency
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Pre-Treatment A barrier plate of copper or nickel should be used to prevent zinc migration
when plating tin over zinc or brass.
A final activation step of 10–20% sulfuric acid is recommended prior to entering
the electroplating cell.
Bath Maintenance The TINGLO CULMO™ Process is a two-component system that imparts
brightness to the deposit over a wide range of current densities. The solution
in most cases is maintained by adding 20 mL of TINGLO CULMO Starter (2.5X)
and 10 mL of TINGLO CULMO Brightener (2.5X) per 100 ampere hours. If
TINGLO CULMO is being used as an etch resist for a Circuit Board
Technologies application, then, it may be possible to replenish the bath only
with TINGLO CULMO Starter (2.5X) at a rate of 30 mL per 100 ampere hour.
TINGLO CULMO Starter (2.5X)
For makeup and replenishment. For maintaining deposit grain refinement
and operating current density range.
TINGLO CULMO Brightener (2.5X)
TINGLO CULMO Brightener (2.5X) is used for replenishment to maintain
deposit uniformity and brightness. Additions are made based upon Hull cell
determination.
NEUTRA RINSE™ 80 Post-Rinse
NEUTRA RINSE 80 is a specially designed post-plate rinse for parts plated in
the TINGLO CULMO Bright Tin Process. NEUTRA RINSE 80 will Neutralize
the acid film left on parts, thus improving solderability and minimizing staining
of parts after plating. (For more information, see NEUTRA RINSE 80
datasheet.)
CLAROSTAN™ S.O. Clarifier
CLAROSTAN S.O. is a liquid clarifier and flocculating agent used to minimize
turbidity commonly found in aged sulfate tin plating solutions. The turbidity is
caused by oxidized tin solids suspended in the solution and the treatment
with CLAROSTAN S.O. precipitates these solids. Regular treatment of the
plating solution is recommended to optimize the plating efficiency.
Spectrophotometric I. Equipment
Analysis of TINGLO a) Five 100 mL volumetric flasks
CULMO™ Starter b) 0.5 mL pipette
(2.5X)
c) 2 mL and 4 mL volumetric pipettes
d) UV Spectrophotometer
e) Quartz cell cuvettes
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II. Reagents
a) Tin stock; 30 g/L SnSO4, 105 mL/L H2SO4
b) 2% TINGLO CULMO™ Starter (2.5X) solution; pipette 2 mL TINGLO
CULMO Starter (2.5X) into a 100 mL volumetric flask and dilute to mark
with tin stock
c) 4% TINGLO CULMO Starter (2.5X) solution; pipette 4 mL TINGLO
CULMO Starter (2.5X) into a 100 mL volumetric flask and dilute to mark
with tin stock
d) Sulfuric acid
III. Procedure
a) Prepare 2% and 4% TINGLO CULMO Starter (2.5X)
standard solutions.
b) Pipette 0.5 mL of each standard, tin stock (used for a blank) and
production electrolytes into separate 100 mL volumetric flasks and
dilute to the mark with a 5% solution of sulfuric acid.
c) Set the UV spectrophotometer up to do a single wavelength reading
at 280 nm.
d) Measure the absorbance of the two standards and the production
electrolytes at 280 nm and record them.
e) Plot the absorbance vs. the % TINGLO CULMO Starter (2.5X)
on a graph for the two standards.
f) Using the above curve, determine the % TINGLO CULMO Starter
(2.5X) of the production electrolytes from their absorbance.
*Note: Filtering may be necessary before pipetting for second dilution.
Tin Metal Stannous sulfate contains 55.3% tin metal and is used to maintain the tin
metal content. To raise tin metal content by 1.0 g/L (0.13 oz./gal.) add 1.8
g/L (0.24 oz./gal.) stannous sulfate.
Determination of Tin I. Equipment
Metal a) 5 mL Class A volumetric pipette
b) 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask
c) 50 mL burette
d) 100 mL graduated cylinder
e) Eye dropper
II. Reagents
a) Hydrochloric acid, 20% v/v
b) Starch indicator solution
III. Titrants
a) Iodine solution, 0.10N standardized
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Dissolve 12.7g iodine in approximately 750 mL of 10% potassium iodide
solution. Dilute to 1 liter with D.I. water. Then standardize against a
know sodium thiosulfate solution.
IV. Procedure
a) Pipette 5 mL of the tin plating solution to be analyzed into 250 mL
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 100 mL of distilled water.
c) Add 20 mL of 20% hydrochloric acid (20%).
d) Add 1 mL starch indicator solution.
e) Titrate with 0.1N iodine solution to a blue color, which persists for 30
seconds.
V. Calculation
stannous sulfate in oz./gal. = mL of 0.1N Iodine used × 0.286
Sulfuric Acid Sulfuric acid concentration must be maintained for optimum throwing power.
Determination of I. Equipment
Sulfuric Acid a) 5 mL Class A volumetric pipette
b) 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask
c) 50 mL burette
d) Eye dropper
II. Reagents
a) Tin plating solution
b) Ammonium oxalate (4%)
c) Bromocresol purple indicator
III. Titrants
a) Sodium hydroxide solution, 1.0N
IV. Procedure
a) Pipette 5 mL of the tin plating solution to be analyzed into 250 mL
Erlenmeyer flask.
b) Add 50 mL of ammonium oxalate solution (4%).
c) Add 5 drops of bromocresol purple indicator.
d) Titrate with 1.0N sodium hydroxide solution until the color changes
from yellow to purple.
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V. Calculation
sulfuric acid in % v/v =
mL of 1.0N sodium hydroxide × 0.53
Anode Maintenance Anode area should be maintained for optimum results. Inspect anodes on a
regular basis and replace worn or severely necked slab anodes.
Recommended Control Schedule
Analysis of Procedure Frequency
Stannous Tin Volumetric Daily
Sulfuric Acid Volumetric Daily
Metallic Contamination Atomic Absorption Weekly
Chloride Contamination Ion Specific Electrodes Weekly
Deposit Appearance Hull Cell Daily
Deposit Thickness X-ray, Beta backscatter, Daily
Cross section
Throwing Power Cross section, X-ray Weekly
Contaminants The maximum tolerable level of typical contaminants are listed below:
Copper 5 ppm
Iron 1,000 ppm
Nickel 100 ppm
Product Data For the specific Product Data values, please refer to the Certificate of Analysis
provided with the shipment of the product(s).
Associated Products TINGLO CULMO™ Starter (2.5X)
TINGLO CULMO Brightener (2.5X)
NEUTRA RINSE™ 80 Post-Rinse
CLAROSTAN™ S.O. Clarifier
Equipment Tanks: Polypropylene, Polyethylene, CPVC
Agitation: Cathode movement and solution agitation.
Work rod speed = 3–4 m/min. (2.0–2.6 in./sec.)
Stroke length = 50–70 mm (2.0–2.8 in.)
Continuous solution agitation at 3 to 4 turnovers per hour
Filtration: Periodic through 1 micron polypropylene or Dynel
cartridges
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Solution Cooling: May be required for certain operations; Teflon
fluoropolymer coils are recommended
Anodes: Pure tin slabs, minimum purity of 99.95%; the use of
titanium anode baskets is not recommended
Rectifier: Continuous voltage control with 5% maximum ripple
Equipment Prior to makeup, the process tank and ancillary equipment should be
Preparation thoroughly cleaned and then leached with a sulfuric acid solution.
This procedure is particularly important for new equipment or equipment
previously used for other processes.
I. Cleaning Solution
a) Trisodium Phosphate: 15 g/L (2 oz./gal.)
b) Sodium Hydroxide: 15 g/L (2 oz./gal.)
II. Leaching Solution
Sulfuric Acid: 100 mL/L (10% v/v)
III. Procedure
a) Thoroughly wash down tank and ancillary equipment with clean water.
b) Recirculate water through the complete system to remove water
soluble materials.
c) Discard water.
d) Add cleaning solution to the tank, heat to 55–60°C (130–140°F) and
recirculate through the complete system.
e) Discard cleaning solution.
f) Recirculate water through the complete system.
g) Discard water.
h) Add leaching solution and recirculate through the complete system.
i) Leave leaching solution in tank for minimum of 8 hours.
j) Recirculate leaching solution through the complete system.
k) Discard leaching solution.
l) Recirculate water through the complete system.
m)Discard water.
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Handling Before using this product, associated generic chemicals or the analytical reagents required
Precautions for its control, consult the supplier’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)/Safety Data Sheet
(SDS) for details on product hazards, recommended handling precautions and product
storage.
CAUTION! Keep combustible and/or flammable products and their vapors away from heat,
sparks, flames and other sources of ignition including static discharge. Processing or
operating at temperatures near or above product flashpoint may pose a fire hazard. Use
appropriate grounding and bonding techniques to manage static discharge hazards.
CAUTION! Failure to maintain proper volume level when using immersion heaters can
expose tank and solution to excessive heat resulting in a possible combustion hazard,
particularly when plastic tanks are used.
Storage Store products in tightly closed original containers at temperatures recommended on the
product label.
Disposal Dispose in accordance with all local, state (provincial) and federal regulations. Empty
Considerations containers may contain hazardous residues. This material and its container must be
disposed in a safe and legal manner.
It is the user's responsibility to verify that treatment and disposal procedures comply with
local, state (provincial) and federal regulations. Contact your Dow Electronic Materials
Technical Representative for more information.
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