Abstract
With the contact pad consisted of $0.5{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ $Au/5{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ Ni/Cu layers on a conventional ball grid array(BGA) substrate, metallurgical reaction properties between the pad and In-15(wt.%)Pb-5Ag solder alloy were studied after reflow and solid aging. In as-reflow condition, thin AuIn$_2$or Ni$_{28}$In$_{72}$ intermetallic layer was formed at the solder/pad interface according to reflow time. Dissolution of the Au layer into the molten solder was remarkably limited in comparison with eutectic Sn-37Pb alloy. After solid aging of 300 hrs, thickness of In-Ni layer increased to about $2{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in the both as-reflow case. It was observed that In atoms diffuse through the AuIn$_2$phase to react with underlaying Ni layer. The metallurgical reaction properties between In-l5Pb-7Ag alloy and Au/Ni surface finish were analysed to result in suppression of Au-embrittlement in the solder joints.
