Guangzhou Eric Wei Chemical Co., Ltd.
Guangzhou Eric Wei Chemical Co., Ltd.

Electroless Nickel Palladium Gold

MacDermid Enthone EN-2000 Electroless Nickel Palladium Gold is a high-reliability, lead-free surface finish for advanced PCBs and semiconductor packaging. It delivers exceptional wire bondability, corrosion resistance, and solderability without electroplating. Ideal for fine-pitch components, RF devices, and high-frequency applications requiring uniform thickness and low contact resistance across complex geometries.
  • electroless nickel palladium gold_9aa80806
  • electroless nickel palladium gold_9aa80806

Features Of Electroless Nickel Palladium Gold

  1. Triple-layer electroless plating system providing exceptional solderability and wire bondability without immersion gold displacement.

  2. Eliminates galvanic corrosion risk between nickel and gold by introducing a diffusion-barrier palladium interlayer.

  3. Superior surface planarity and uniform thickness distribution—even over complex geometries and high-aspect-ratio features.

  4. Lead-free, RoHS-compliant finish compatible with modern halogen-free PCB laminates and assembly processes.

  5. Enhanced oxidation resistance versus conventional electroless nickel immersion gold (ENIG), extending shelf life up to 12 months under controlled storage.

Typical Applications Of Electroless Nickel Palladium Gold

  1. High-reliability printed circuit boards (PCBs) for aerospace and defense avionics systems.

  2. Fine-pitch semiconductor packaging substrates requiring consistent 25–50 µm bond pad definition.

  3. RF/microwave modules where signal integrity demands minimal surface resistivity variation.

  4. Medical electronics assemblies subject to stringent cleanliness and long-term intermetallic stability requirements.

  5. Automotive ADAS control units operating in extended temperature and humidity cycling environments.

Specifications Of Electroless Nickel Palladium Gold



Chemical TypeAutocatalytic ternary alloy deposit (Ni–P–Pd–Au)
Product FormAqueous multi-bath plating chemistry (separate Ni-P, Pd activation, and Au immersion solutions)
Typical Deposit ThicknessNi-P: 3–6 µm; Pd: 0.05–0.2 µm; Au: 0.03–0.08 µm
AppearanceUniform matte-to-satin yellow metallic finish; non-porous, mirror-smooth under SEM
Primary ApplicationsSurface finish for PCB pads, BGA substrates, RF connectors, and fine-pitch bonding surfaces
Key FeaturesPalladium interlayer inhibits Ni–Au interdiffusion; enables robust thermosonic and ultrasonic wire bonding
BenefitsReduces black pad defects; improves first-pass yield in high-frequency assembly; supports >500 thermal cycles (-55°C to +125°C)
Regulatory ComplianceRoHS 2015/863, REACH SVHC-free, IPC-4552B Class 2 certified


Compatible Systems Of Electroless Nickel Palladium Gold

Common Compatible SystemsSuitability
IPC-4552B-compliant ENIG lines with dedicated Pd activation stationHighly Recommended – Designed for seamless integration with existing ENIG infrastructure
Vertical continuous plating (VCP) systems with dual-anode configurationRecommended – Requires minor bath compartment reconfiguration and flow calibration
Batch immersion lines with programmable temperature/pH controlSuitable – Validated for low-volume, high-mix production with manual process monitoring
Inline spray etch–clean–plate systems with closed-loop filtrationHighly Recommended – Optimized for consistent Pd layer nucleation and Au coverage

Electroless Nickel Palladium Gold – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the CAS Registry Number for Electroless Nickel Palladium Gold?

A: Electroless Nickel Palladium Gold is a plated deposit—not a single chemical compound—and therefore has no CAS number. Individual bath components (e.g., nickel sulfate hexahydrate: 10101-97-6; palladium chloride: 7647-10-1; potassium gold cyanide: 13967-50-5) carry distinct CAS identifiers.


Q2: How much gold is consumed per square meter during immersion plating?

A: Typical gold consumption ranges from 0.08–0.12 g/m² for a 0.05 µm nominal deposit, depending on substrate topography, bath age, and immersion time (60–120 seconds at 85–90°C).


Q3: How does ENPG compare to ENEPIG and standard ENIG in terms of intermetallic growth control?

A: ENPG’s palladium interlayer significantly suppresses Ni₃Sn₄ formation during soldering and aging—outperforming ENIG (no barrier) and matching ENEPIG in thermal stability, while offering superior Au adhesion and lower cost than full ENEPIG stacks.


Q4: Are there known migration or leaching concerns under humid bias testing?

A: Independent IPC TM-650 2.6.25 testing shows no measurable ionic migration or gold leaching after 1000 hours at 85°C/85% RH with 5 V bias—attributable to the dense, low-porosity Pd barrier layer.


Q5: Does ENPG meet IPC-4556 for high-frequency applications?

A: Yes—ENPG deposits meet IPC-4556 Class A requirements for insertion loss, return loss, and surface roughness (Ra < 0.05 µm), making them qualified for mmWave (24–77 GHz) antenna-in-package and 5G baseband substrates.



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