• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.84-87
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• 2003

Since Pb-free solder alloys have been used extensively in microelectronic packaging industry, the interaction between UBM (Under Bump Metallurgy) and solder is a critical issue because IMC (Intermetallic Compound) at the interface is critical for the adhesion of mechanical and the electrical contact for flip chip bonding. IMC growth must be fast during the reflow process to form stable IMC. Too fast IMC growth, however, is undesirable because it causes the dewetting of UBM and the unstable mechanical stability of thick IMC. UP to now. Ni and Cu are the most popular UBMs because electroplating is lower cost process than thin film deposition in vacuum for Al/Ni(V)/Cu or phased Cr-Cu. The consumption rate and the growth rate of IMC on Ni are lower than those of Cu. In contrast, the wetting of solder bumps on Cu is better than Ni. In addition, the residual stress of Cu is lower than that of Ni. Therefore, the alloy of Cu and Ni could be used as optimum UBM with both advantages of Ni and Cu. In this paper, the interfacial reactions of Sn-3.5Ag-0.7Cu solder on Ni-xCu alloy UBMs were investigated. The UBMs of Ni-Cu alloy were made on Si wafer. Thin Cr film and Cu film were used as adhesion layer and electroplating seed layer, respectively. And then, the solderable layer, Ni-Cu alloy, was deposited on the seed layer by electroplating. The UBM consumption rate and intermetallic growth on Ni-Cu alloy were studied as a function of time and Cu contents. And the IMCs between solder and UBM were analyzed with SEM, EDS, and TEM.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.389-394
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• 1994

The age-hardening behavior and the structural changes in a commercial dental Au-Ag-Cu-Pd alloy were investigated by means of hardness test, optical and scanning electron microscopic observation, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction study. The drastic reduction in hardness by prolonged aging occurred after a rapid increase in hardness at the initial stage by the isothermal aging at $350^{\circ}C$. This softening was due to the broad precipitates formation of the lamellar structure which was composed of the f.c.t. AuCu I ordered f.c.t. phase containing Pd and the f.c.c. Ag-rich $\alpha$1 solid solution f.c.c.phase containing Au.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.10
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• pp.605-612
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• 2009

The suitability of twin roll strip casting for Ag-27.5%Cu-20.5%Zn-2.5%Mn-0.5%Ni brazing alloy (known as HS-49D) was examined in the present work and the mechanical properties and microstructure of the strip were also investigated. The effect of annealing heat treatment on the properties was also studied. The new manufacturing process has applications in the production of the brazing alloy. XRD and microstructural analyses of the Ag-27.5%Cu-20.5%Zn-2.5%Mn-0.5%Ni strip revealed a eutectic microstructure of an Ag-rich matrix (FCC) and a Cu-rich phase (FCC) regardless of heat treatment. The results of mechanical tests showed tensile strength of 434 MPa and 80% elongation for the twin roll casted strip. Tensile results showed decreasing strengths and increasing elongation with annealing heat treatment. Microstructural evolution and fractography were also investigated and related to the mechanical properties.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.196-204
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• 1997

Joining of AIN ceramics to W and Cu by active-metal brazing method was tried with use of (Ag-Cu)-Ti alloy as insert-metal. Joints were produced under various conditions of temperature, holding time and Ti-content in (Ag-Cu) alloy Reaction and microstructural development in bonded interface were investigated through observation and analysis by SEM/EDS, EPMA and XRD. Joint strengths were measured by shear test. Bonded interface consists of two layers: an insert-metal layer of eutectic Ag- and Cu-rich phases and a reaction layer of TiN. Thickness of reaction layer increases with bonding temperature, holding time and Ti-content of insert-metal. It was confirmed that the growth of reaction layer is a diffusion-controlled process. Activation energy for this process was 260 KJ/mol which is lower than that for N diffusion in TiN. Maximum shear strength of 108 MPa and 72 MPa were obtained for AIN/W and AIN/Cu joints, respectively. Relationship between processing variables, joint strength and thickness of reaction layer was also explained.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.157-166
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• 1998

Recently as environmental pollution caused by Pb has posed a serious threat to the global environment, the trend to regulate the usage of Pb in electronic industry is one the rise. Currently, the solder alloy with high Pb content, Sn-37%Pb, is utilized in the electronic assembly therefore, the objective of this study is to develop an alternative solder alloy for the existing Sn-37%Pb solder alloy. First thing, this work choosed Sn-5%Pb-1.5%Ag, Sn-5%Pb-1.5%Ag-x%Bi(x=1~5%) for candidate solder alloys, and examined their properties such as melting range, wettability, microhardness, tensile property, oxidation behavior and microstructure. Wettability was on the same level of Sn-37%Pb. Dissolution of Pb ion in Sn-5%Pb solder was 0.46ppm. This solder alloy revealed cellular dendrite microstructure $\beta$-Sn matrix, Pb-rich phase, Ag/Sn, and Cu/Sn Intermetallic compounds. The range of solidification temperature was within 3$0^{\circ}C$. Also these alloy displayed higher tensile strength and lower elongation than Sn-37%Pb. The resistance of oxidation in Sn-5%Pb-1.5%Ag solder alloy was superior to that of Sn-37%Pb solder alloy. But that of Sn-5%Pb-1.5%Ag-5%Bi solder alloy was equal to that of Sn-37%Pb solder alloy.

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.57-57
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• 2000

Brazing characteristics of the LTCC(Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramics)/ Kovar(Fe-Ni-Co alloy) was investigated. Kovar is one of the typical material for the lid of MCM and packages. In case of alumina package, Brazing process is done by higher temperature profile than 800 $^{\circ}C$ and Ag-Cu alloy. But, LTCC has sintering temperature near 850 $^{\circ}C$. So, it is difficult to use the same process as alumina brazing. The adhesion strength of the brazed part is affected by brazing alloy and metallization properties between conductor pattern and LTCC material. We investigated brazing characteristics of the LTCC/Kovar using various brazing alloys(Ag-Cu, Au-Sn) and process conditions. And, we examined the influence of the glass contents in conductor on the brazing characteristics of the LTCC/Kovar.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.123-141
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• 1989

The purpose of this study was to investigate the tendency of color change of ceramic, and its mechanism un der the influence of Pd-Ag alloy. The specimens were made by firing porcelain on tile metal plates cast with Au-Pt alloy, Pd-Cu alloy and Pd-Ag alloy. In the case of Pd-Ag alloy, specimens were fired under three different conditions as follows, 1) without protection, 2) protection with ceramic metal conditioner, 3) protection with carbon block. For the specimens of element analysis, a barrier was constructed with platinum foil between metal plate and ceramic. Color change was measured with colorimeter and elemental changes in ceramic were calculated with DC argon plasma emission spectrophotometer. The results were as follows : 1. Color change of ceramic by Pd-Ag alloy was negligible in hue, but decreased in value and increased in chroma (yellow discoloration). 2. Color change of ceramic by Pd-Ag alloy was appeared through vapor transport mechanism. 3. As the protection method for the color change of ceramic by Pd-Ag alloy, application of ceramic metal conditioner was superior to utilization of carbon block.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.235-237
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• 2007

In this paper, fabrication of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder bumping having accurate composition and behavior of intermetallic compounds(IMCs) growth at interface between Sn-Ag-Cu bumps and Cu substrate were studied. The ternary alloy of the Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder was made by two binary(Sn-Cu, Sn-Ag) electroplating on Cu pad. For the manufacturing of the micro-bumps, photo-lithography and reflow process were carried out. After reflow process, the micro-bumps were aged at $150^{\circ}C$ during 1 hr to 500 hrs to observe behavior of IMCs growth at interface. As a different of Cu contents(0.5 or 2wt%) at Sn-Cu layer, behavior of IMCs was estimated. The interface were observed by FE-SEM and TEM for estimating of their each IMCs volume ratio and crystallographic-structure, respectively. From the results, it was found that the thickness of $Cu_3Sn$ layer formed at Sn-2.0Cu was thinner than the thickness of that layer be formed Sn-0.5Cu. After aging treatment $Cu_3Sn$ was formed at Sn-0.5Cu layer far thinner.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.12
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• pp.842-851
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• 2009

The long-term reliability of Sn-0.3wt%Ag-0.7wt%Cu solder joints was evaluated and compared with Sn-3.0wt%Ag-0.5wt%Cu under thermal shock conditions. Test vehicles were prepared to use Sn-0.3Ag-0.7Cu and Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder alloys. To compare the shear strength of the solder joints, 0603, 1005, 1608, 2012, 3216 and 4232 multi-layer ceramic chip capacitors were used. A reflow soldering process was utilized in the preparation of the test vehicles involving a FR-4 material-based printed circuit board (PCB). To compare the shear strength degradation following the thermal shock cycles, a thermal shock test was conducted up to 2,000 cycles at temperatures ranging from $-40^{\circ}C$ to $85^{\circ}C$, with a dwell time of 30 min at each temperature. The shear strength of the solder joints of the chip capacitors was measured at every 500 cycles in each case. The intermetallic compounds (IMCs) of the solder joint interfaces werealso analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed that the reliability of Sn-0.3Ag-0.7Cu solder joints was very close to that of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu. Consequently, it was confirmed that Sn-0.3Ag-0.7Cu solder alloy with a low silver content can be replaced with Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu.

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.133-137
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• 2003

The effect of Bi additions to the eutectic Sn-3.5Ag solder alloy on the growth kinetics of the intermetallic compound (IMC) layers during solid-state aging of Sn-Ag-Bi/Cu solder joints has been Investigated. The Bi additions enhanced the growth rate of the total IMC layer comprising of $Cu_6Sn_5$ and $Cu_3Sn$ sublayers. This enhanced IMC growth rate was primarily due to the rapid increase In the growth rate of $Cu_6Sn_5$ sublayer. The growth rate of $Cu_3Sn$ sublayers was little influenced and appeared to be retarded by the Bi additions. The observed growth behavior of $Cu_6Sn_5$ and $Cu_3Sn$ sublayers could be understood if the interfacial reaction barrier at the $Cu_6Sn_5/solder$ interface were reduced by the segregation of Bi at the interface.