Organic Surface Preservative (OSP)

Organic Surface Preservative (OSP) is a type of water-based, organic surface finish that is typically applied to copper pads on a PCB during the final stages of PCB Fabrication. The finish itself is an organic chemical compound that will selectively bond to copper pads, providing an organometallic layer to protect the copper beneath.

OSP is not as durable as other surface finishes, such as HASL or ENIG, and is very sensitive to small abrasions, which means that careful handling with proper protective equipment is required throughout the PCB Assembly Process. Due to the fragility of the OSP finish, we highly recommend choosing Bittele’s Complete PCB Assembly service for projects using OSP finish; this way, you can minimize the shipping and handling of your OSP-finished boards.

OSP is an environmentally-friendly compound, and extremely green even in comparison with other Lead-Free PCB finishes, which typically contain more toxic substances, or require substantially higher energy consumption. OSP is a good lead-free surface finish, with very flat surfaces for SMT Assembly, but it also has a relatively short shelf life.

To apply this surface finish, the PCB is dipped into a chemical bath of the OSP compound, but this may only be done after all other PCB Fabrication processes are finished, including Electrical Testing, Visual Inspection, and Automated Optical Inspection (AOI).

Pros

Lead-free
Flat surface
Simple process
Repairable
Cost Effective

Cons

Not good for PTH (Plated Through Holes)
No Way to Measure Thickness
Short Shelf Life
Can Cause ICT Issues
Exposed Cu on Final Assembly
Handling Sensitive

For your convenience, Bittele offers a variety of PCB Options at a Standard Price, but the OSP surface finish is unfortunately not included among these options; for projects requiring OSP, we will need to analyze your design on a case-by-case basis to develop your quotation. Our various surface finish options are listed in the table below, along with some basic information regarding each finish.

If you still find yourself with any questions about OSP or any other surface finish, or to send Bittele your PCB Design Files for an official quote, you can Contact Us any time! At Bittele Electronics, we provide top quality PCB Assembly in Canada to our clients across the globe, and that includes helping you to decide what surface finish is right for your boards. To speak with one of our PCB experts today, you can email sales@7pcb.com, or call us toll-free at 1-888-812-1949.