• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.59-64
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• 2003

Microstructure and shear strength of Sn-Zn lead-free solders and Au/Ni/Cu UBM joint under thermal aging conditions was investigated. The samples were aged isothermally at 10$0^{\circ}C$ and 15$0^{\circ}C$ for 300, 600, and 900 hours. The IMCs(Intermetallic Compound) at the interface between solder and UBM were examined by FESEM and TEM. The results showed that the shear strength was decreased with aging time and temperature. The solder ball with high activated RA flux had about 8.2% higher shear strength than that of RMA flux. Poor wetting and many voids were observed in the fractured solder joint with of RMA flux. The decreased shear strengths were caused by IMC growth and Zn grain coarsening. Zn reacted with Au and then was transformed to the $\beta$ -AuZn compound. Although AuZn grew first, $r-Ni_5Zn_{21}$ compounds were formed with aging time. The layers indicated by $Ni_5Zn_{21}(1)$, (2), and (3) were formed with the thickness of ∼0.7 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, ∼4 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, and ∼2 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, respectively.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.85-90
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• 2011

With regard to reliability of solder joint, the significant failures include open defects that occurs from alignment problem, Head in Pillow by PCB's warpage, the crack of solder by CTE mismatch, and the crack of IMC layer by mechanical impact. Especially as PCB down-sizing and surface finish is under progress, brittle failure of IMC layer between solder bump and PCB pad becomes a big issue. Therefore, it requires enhancing the level of difficulty in the existing assessment method and improving the measurement through the study on the mechanism of IMC formation, growth and brittle failure. Under this circumstance, this study is intended to suggest the direction of research for improving the reliability on the crack such as improvement of IMC brittle fracture.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.202-204
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• 2006

The reliability of insert mounted components has been considered as their life time was getting increased. The spread of crack and the growth of IMC(intermetallic compound) were observed by SEM(scanning electron microscope) and EDS(energy dispersive spectroscope). The cracks in Sn-37wt%Pb under thermal shock test were found earlier than other solders(Sn-3.0wt%Ag-0.5wt%Cu and Sn-0.7wt%Cu-0.01wt%P). The IMC thickness was increased with increasing number of thermal shock cycles in the following order : Sn-0.7Cu-0.01P; Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu; Sn-37Pb

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.36-38
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• 2006

We investigated that the metallurgical, mechanical and electrical properties of the Sn-3.SAg/Cu ball grid array (BGA) solder joints at a reflow temperature of $255^{\circ}C$ for different reflow times of 10, 60, 300 and 1800 s. Two different intermetallic compound (IMC) layers, consisting of scallop-shaped $Cu_6Sn_5$ and very thin $Cu_3Sn$, formed at the solder/substrate interface, and their thicknesses increased with increasing reflow time. The shear force peaked after reflow for 60 s, and then significantly decreased with increasing reflow time. The fracture occurred along the solder ball in the initial reflow, but the fraction of the brittle fracture increased with increasing reflow time. The IMC growth and the volume of Cu dissolved in the solder balls affected the electrical property.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.71-77
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• 2007

In this study, the mechanical and electrical properties of three different ball grid array (BGA) solder joints, consisting of Sn-37Pb, Sn-3.5Ag and Sn-3.5Ag-0.75Cu (all wt.%), with organic solderability preservative (OSP)-finished Cu pads were investigated as a function of reflow number. Based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis results, a continuous $Cu_6Sn5$, intermetallic compound (IMC) layer was formed at the solder/substrate interface, which grew with increasing reflow number. The ball shear testing results showed that the shear force peaked after 3 reflows (in case of Sn-Ag solder, 4 reflows), and then decreased with increasing reflow number. The electrical property of the joint gradually decreased with increasing reflow number.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.19-24
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• 2015

Joint properties of electric control unit (ECU) module using Sn-Cu-(X)Al(Si) lead-free solder alloy were investigated for automotive electronics module. In this study, Sn-0.5Cu-0.01Al(Si) and Sn-0.5Cu-0.03Al(Si) (wt.%) lead-free alloys were fabricated as bar type by doped various weight percentages (0.01 and 0.03 wt.%) of Al(Si) alloy to Sn-0.5Cu. After fabrications of lead-free alloys, the ball-type solder alloys with a diameter of 450 um were made by rolling and punching. The melting temperatures of 0.01Al(Si) and 0.03Al(Si) were 230.2 and $230.8^{\circ}C$, respectively. To evaluation of properties of solder joint, test printed circuit board (PCB) finished with organic solderability perseveration (OSP) on Cu pad. The ball-type solders were attached to test PCB with flux and reflowed for formation of solder joint. The maximum temperature of reflow was $260^{\circ}C$ for 50s above melting temperature. And then, we measured spreadability and shear strength of two Al(Si) solder materials compared to Sn-0.7Cu solder material used in industry. And also, microstructures in solder and intermetallic compounds (IMCs) were observed. Moreover, thickness and grain size of $Cu_6Sn_5$ IMC were measured and then compared with Sn-0.7Cu. With increasing the amounts of Al(Si), the $Cu_6Sn_5$ thickness was decreased. These results show the addition of Al(Si) could suppress IMC growth and improve the reliability of solder joint.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.179-183
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• 2006

As a material for SFCL(Superconducting Fault Current Limiter), BSCCO tube with metal stabilizer is a promising candidate, assuring the stability and large power capacity, For the application, the proper soldering technique, which overcome the difficulties of the joining between BSCCO and metal stabilizer, is required. In this study, after soldering In-Bi solder and In-Sn solder with BSCCO superconductor, welding properties between BSCCO and solders were investigated. Because ceramic materials is difficult to weld, Ag electro-plating on BSCCO 2212 is used for intermetallic layer. To find out the best welding condition for superconductor, soldering is tested in the maximum temperature from $155^{\circ}C\;to\;165^{\circ}C$ in the reflow oven. By investigating the composition and thickness of IMC (lntermetallic Compound) created in the reaction of Ag with solder, we analyzed the welding properties of High-Tc superconductor from a micro point of view.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2008

We studied a growth behavior of Intermetallic compounds(IMCs) during solder bumping with two reflow methods. Ti(50 nm), Cu($1{\mu}m$), Au(50 nm) and Ti(50 nm) thin films were deposited on $SiO_2$/Si wafer using the DC magnetron sputtering system as the under bump metallization(UBM). And the $5{\mu}m$ thick Cu bumps and $20{\mu}m$ thick Sn bumps were fabricated on UBM by electroplating. Sn bumps were reflowed in RTA(Rapid Thermal Annealing) system and convection reflow oven. When RTA system was used, reflow was possible without using flux and IMC thickness formed in the solder interface was thinner than that of a convectional method.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.481-486
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• 2010

ENIG (electroless Ni immersion gold) is one of surface finishing which has been most widely used in fine pitch SMT (surface mount technology) and BGA (ball grid array) packaging process. The reliability for package bondability is mainly affected by interfacial reaction between solder and surface finishing. Since the behavior of IMC (intermetallic compound), or the interfacial reaction between Ni and solder, affects to some product reliabilities such as solderability and bondability, understanding behavior of IMC should be important issue. Thus, we studied the properties of ENIG with P contents (9 wt% and 13 wt%), where the P contents is one of main factors in formation of IMC layer. The effect of P content was discussed using the results obtained from FE-SEM(field-emission scanning electron microscope), EPMA(electron probe micro analyzer), EDS(energy dispersive spectroscopy) and Dual-FIB(focused ion beam). Especially, we observed needle type irregular IMC layer with decreasing Ni contents under high P contents (13 wt%). Also, we found how IMC layer affects to bondability with forming continuous Kirkendall voids and thick P-rich layer.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.11-20
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• 2010

The effects of heat treatment on matte pure tin-plated Cu leadframes at high temperature and humidity conditions were investigated. After 1800 hrs of storage at $55^{\circ}C/85%$ RH, approximately 14.5 ${\mu}m$ long striation-shaped whiskers were observed on the surface of the without postbake treatment (WOPB) samples, while no whiskers were found in with postbake treatment (WPB) samples. The preferred orientations of Sn grains in WOPB and WPB sample did not change after the postbake treatment at $125^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr. However, both changed from (112) to (321) and (101), respectively, after 1800 hrs of storage at $55^{\circ}C/85%$ RH. The tensile stress of 8 MPa generated in as-plated sample was changed to a compression stress of 17 MPa after 2 days in room temperature storage. Due to the grain growth during postbake treatment, the WPB samples have more regular grains than the WOPB samples. In the as-plated sample, 0.32 ${\mu}m$ thickness of planar intermetallic compound (IMC) was observed. The IMCs in the WOPB and WPB samples had two distinct layers with large grains of $Cu_6Sn_5$ and with small grains of ${\eta}-Cu_{6.26}Sn_5$.