TQFP100 is moisture sensitive?

[vlad777]

Hello,

I just received this packet from Farnell and I am kind of surprised that tqfp100 (0.5mm pitch) is moisture sensitive.
It say's level 3 on the packet. Is this for real or are they sending everything in these bags?

Anyway it is a Lattice machxo 1200 PLD I want to play with.

Many thanks.

EDIT:
Previously they sent me a Xilinx PLCC44 in moisture sensitive bag also. ?

[ovnr]

It's not really based only on what package type it is, but also the materials used.

I've even gotten  MSL3-rated LEDs.

[vlad777]

I am not expert in leds, but some white leds have rubbery surface probably filled with phosphorus.

But tqfp is just plastic and metal (from the outside). What here can be affected with moisture?

EDIT:
Does this msl3 applies to soldering, because I am not going to use reflow or heat gun?

[rsjsouza]

I am not sure about this particular part, but authorized distributors usually follow the manufacturers' recommendations to the dot as they do not want to be held responsible for a mess up in an end customer product.

And yes, "plastic" and metal can be hygroscopic - i.e. loooooove to adsorb and maybe even absorb water in the air.

However, if this is a small hand-soldered batch then you should be fine - in massive production runs you want to keep moisture away to refrain from interfering with the oven soldering process.

Just to play safe, only open the package before soldering the part, and keep the remaining ones in the tightly closed bag with the silica-gel and the moisture card (usually there is one).

[Psi]

i've hand soldered lots of atmega's that all came in moisture sensitive packaging from digikey and never had issues. Most of them came in lots of 10 and were removed from the packaging and slowly used up over a long period.

[amyk]

The main issue is with reflow where the whole part gets heated and the escaping vapour can crack the package, if you are just heating the legs manually with a soldering iron it won't be much of a problem if the body has absorbed moisture.