• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.11 no.3 s.32
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• pp.37-45
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• 2004

Electroless Ni(P) has been widely used for under bump metallization (UBM) of flip chip and surface finish layer in microelectronic packaging because of its excellent solderability, corrosion resistance, uniformity, selective deposition without photo-lithography, and also good diffusion barrier. However, the brittle fracture at solder joints and the spatting of intermetallic compound (IMC) associated with electroless Ni(P) are critical issues for its successful applications. In the present study, the mechanism of IMC spatting and microstructure change of the Ni(P) film were investigated with varying P content in the Ni(P) film (4.6,9, and $13 wt.\%$P). A reaction between Sn penetrated through the channels among $Ni_3Sn_4$ IMCs and the P-rich layer ($Ni_3P$) of the Ni(P) film formed a $Ni_3SnP$ layer. Thickening of the $Ni_3SnP$ layer led to $Ni_3Sn_4$ spatting. After $Ni_3Sn_4$ spatting, the Ni(P) film directly contacted the molten solder and the $Ni_3P$ phase further transformed into a $Ni_2P$ phase. During the crystallization process, some cracks formed in the Ni(P) film to release tensile stress accumulated from volume shrinkage of the film.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.12 no.1 s.34
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• pp.41-46
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• 2005

A systematic investigation of shear testing was conducted to find a relationship between Ni-Sn intermetallic spatting and the brittle fracture observed in electroless Ni(P)/solder interconnection. Brittle fracture was found in the solder joints made of Sn-3.5Ag, while only ductile fracture was observed in a Cu-containing solder (Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu). For Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu joints, $(Ni,Cu)_3Sn_4$ and/or $(Cu,Ni)_6Sn_5$ compound were formed at the interface without spatting from the Ni(P) film. For Sn-3.5Ag, $Ni_3Sn_4$ compound was formed and brittle fracture occurred in solder pads where $Ni_3Sn_4$ had spalled. From the analysis of fractured surfaces, it was found that the brittle fracture occurs through the $Ni_3SnP$ layer formed between $Ni_3Sn_4$ intermetallic layer and the Ni(P) film. Since the $Ni_3SnP$ layer is getting thicker during/ after $Ni_3Sn_4$ spatting, suppression of $Ni_3Sn_4$ spatting is crucial to ensure the reliability of Ni(P)/solder system.