As PCB designs grow more complex and the industries we serve demand ever-higher reliability, the soldering process has never mattered more. At Impact ES, we've invested in Vapor Phase Reflow (VPR) soldering.
Vapor Phase Reflow, also known as condensation soldering, uses an inert fluid heated to its precise boiling point to create a dense vapor layer. When a PCB assembly is lowered into this vapor, the heat transfers uniformly across every component on the board — regardless of size, mass, or density — at a temperature that physically cannot exceed the fluid's boiling point.
That built-in thermal ceiling is one of VPR's most important characteristics. There is no risk of overheating sensitive components, even on complex, mixed-mass boards where high thermal mass components sit next to smaller, thermally sensitive components. In addition, automatic recognition of the solder liquidus temperature means tightly controlled time-above-liquidus (TAL), which is advantageous for creating high-quality solder joints.
Because the vapor is denser than air, it completely displaces oxygen from the soldering environment, resulting in improved wetting during the soldering process— a measurable quality improvement over standard convection reflow, particularly for lead-free soldering where wetting can be more difficult to achieve.
VPR is the right process when your design includes any of the following:
High component density with mixed thermal masses
BGA, QFN, or other bottom-terminated components requiring low-void solder joints
IPC Class 3 requirements for aerospace, defense, medical, or space programs
Heat-sensitive components with tight thermal process windows
Lead-free solder alloys where wetting consistency is critical
Our investment in Vapor Phase Reflow reflects our commitment to being the right manufacturing partner for programs where failure is not an option. Combined with our AS9100D, ISO 13485, ISO 9001:2015, and NADCAP certifications, VPR is one more capability that lets us say yes to the most demanding programs our customers bring us.
