A method and apparatus are disclosed for selective removal of a
conformal coating from the solder balls of grid array packages such that the benefits of the
coating are realized. An ancillary benefit of the invention is improved process-ability of the grid array
package by improving the mechanical containment of the solder during the reflow process and improved
electrical isolation between the individual solder attachment points. For example, a method for
coating a
ball grid array is provided, which includes
coating the
ball grid array with a
thin layer of
parylene. Next, the
solder ball side of the part is butter smeared or squeegeed with a
water soluble coating and assembled wet. A
mask having holes in the same pattern as the balls in the grid, and a thickness that is about 80% of the height of the balls, is applied to the
solder ball side of the part. This side of the part is then butter smeared again with the
water soluble coating, and the entire
assembly is allowed to dry. At this point, about 20% of each
parylene-coated
solder ball protrudes higher than the surface of the
mask. The solder ball side of the part is then grit blasted with an
abrasive material. The extent that the
abrasive material removes the
parylene coating from the solder balls is limited by the
mask and the layer of
water soluble coating. Therefore, the
grit blasting removes the
parylene coating from only the protruding areas (e.g., about top 20%) of the solder balls. Water is then used to remove the water soluble coating, and the parylene coated part is baked to remove
moisture. Thus, a parylene coated
ball grid array (or column grid array) is provided that is highly impervious to
moisture, has a very high
dielectric strength, and thereby improves the
electrical performance and reliability of the surface mounted part.