• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1856-1863
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• 2004

In the last 50 years, lead-contained solder materials have been the most popular interconnect materials used in the electronics industry. Recently, lead-free solders are about to replace lead-contained solders for preventing environmental pollutions. However, the reliability of lead-free solders is not yet satisfactory. Several researchers reported that lead-contained solders have a good fatigue property. The others published that the lead-free solders have a longer thermal fatigue life. In this paper, the reason for the contradictory results published on the estimation of fatigue life of lead-free solder is investigated. In the present study, fatigue behavior of 63Sn37Pb, and two types of lead-free solder joints were compared using pseudo-power cycling testing method, which provides more realistic load cycling than chamber cycling method does. Pseudo-power cycling test was performed in various temperature ranges to evaluating the shear strain effect. A nonlinear finite element model was used to simulate the thermally induced visco-plastic deformation of solder ball joint in BGA packages. It was found that lead-free solder joints have a good fatigue property in the small temperature range condition. That condition induce small strain amplitude. However in the large temperature range condition, lead-contained solder joints have a longer fatigue life.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 1998.05a
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• pp.157-158
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• 1998

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.12 no.1 s.34
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• pp.47-52
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• 2005

Worldwide movement for prohibition of Pb usage drives imminent implementation of Pb-free solders in microelectronic packaging industry. Reliability information of Pb-free solders has not been completely constructed yet. One of the potential reliability concerns of Pb-free solders is allotropic transformation of Sn known as tin pest. Volume increase during the formation of tin pest could deteriorate the reliability of solder joints. It was also reported that the addition of soluble elements (i.e. Pb, Bi, and Sb) into Sn can effectively suppress the tin pest. However, the mechanical properties of the tin pest resistant alloys have not been studied in detail. In this study, lap shear creep test was conducted with Sn and Sn-0.7Cu based solder alloys doped with minor amount of Bi or Sb. Shear strain rates of the alloy were generally higher than those of Sn-3.5Ag based alloys. Rupture strains and corresponding Monkman- Grant products were largest for Sn-0.5Bi alloy and smallest for Sn-0.7Cu-0.5Sb alloy. Rupture surface Sn-0.5Bi alloy showed highly elongated $\beta$-Sn globules necked to rupture by shear stresses, while elongation of $\beta$-Sn globules of Sn-0.7Cu-0.5Sb alloy was relatively smaller.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.36-42
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• 1997

In this paper, stability of initial strength at solder joint with lead free solders, such as Sn-In (52-48%) and Sn-Ag (96.5-3.5wt%) was studied. To obtain at solder joint with high quality, it is very important to control the temperature at the interface of solder joints. It is found that the thermal EMF (electro motive force) occurs betwee lead frame and copper pad on a substrate during reflow soldering process using heated tip. As a result of control the temperature at interface of solder joints, variation of initial strength at solder joint decreases from about $\pm40%$ to $\pm20%$, and it is realized Pb free soldering process using Sn/In and Sn-Ag solder paste.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.22-30
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• 2013

Due to ELV banning, automotive electronics cannot use four kinds of heavy metal element (Pb, Hg, Cd, $Cr^{6+}$) from 2016. Therefore, this study was focused on degradation characteristics of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu Lead-free solder joint with OSP and ENIG finsh under various reliability assessment method, as like to thermal shock test and high temeprature/high humidity test with test duration for cabin electronics. Also, we compared bonding strength degradation to other advanced research results of electronic control unit for engine room because of difference service temperature with mount location in automotive. Whisker growth phenomenon and mitigation method which were essentially consideration items for Pb-free car electronics were examined. Conformal coating is a strong candidate for mitigating whisker growth in automotive electronics. Necessary condition to adapt Pb-free in car electronics was shown.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

Interfacial reaction characteristics of a Bi-10Cu-20Sb-0.3Ni Pb-free alloy on Cu pad was investigated by reflow soldering at $430^{\circ}C$. The thickness of interfacial reaction layers with respect to the soldering time was also measured. After the reflow soldering, it was observed that a $(Cu,Ni)_2Sb$, a $Cu_4Sb$ intermetallic layer, and a haze layer, which is consisted of Bi and $Cu_4Sb$ phases, were successively formed at the Bi-10Cu-20Sb-0.3Ni/Cu interface. The total thickness of the reaction layers was found to be linearly increased with increasing of the reflow soldering time up to 120 s. As the added Ni element did not participate in the formation of the thickest $Cu_4Sb$ interfacial layer, suppression of the interfacial growth was not observed.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.37-42
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• 2003

In soldering of electronic packaging, the research on substituting lead-free solder materials for Pb-Sn alloys has become active due to environmental and health concerns over the use of lead. The reliability of the solder joint is very important in the development of solder materials and it is known that it is related to wettability of the solder over the substrate and microstructural evolution during soldering. It is also highly affected by type and extent of the interfacial reaction between solder and substrate and therefore, it is necessary to understand the interfacial reaction between solder and substrate completely. In order to predict the intermetallic compound (IMC) phase which forms first at the substrate/solder interface during the soldering process, a thermodynamic methodology has been suggested. The activation energy for the nucleation of each IMC phases is represented by a function of the interfacial energy and the driving force for phase formation. From this, it is predicted that the IMC phase with the smallest activation energy forms first. The grain morphology of the IMC at the solder joint is also explained by the calculations which use the energy. The Jackson parameter of the IMC grain with a rough surface is smaller than 2 but it is larger than 2 in the case of faceted grains.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.72-72
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• 2009

전자부품의 내부접속 및 파워반도체의 다이본딩과 같은 1차실장에는 고온환경에서의 사용과 2차실장에서의 재용융방지를 위해 높은 액상선온도 및 고상선온도를 필요로 하여, Pb-5wt%Sn, Pb-2.5wt%Ag로 대표되는 납성분 85%이상의 고온솔더가 널리 사용되고 있다. 생태계와 인체에 대한 납의 유해성이 보고된 이래, 무연솔더에 대한 연구가 활발히 진행되어 왔으나, Sn-Ag-Cu계로 대표되는 Sn계 합금으로 대체 중인 중온용 솔더와는 달리, 고온용 솔더에 대해서는 대체합금에 대한 연구가 미흡한 실정이다. 대체재의 부재로 인해 기존의 납을 다량함유한 솔더로 1차실장이 지속됨으로서, 2차실장의 무연화에도 불구하고 전자부품 및 기기의 재활용에 큰 어려움을 겪고 있다. 지금까지 고온용 무연솔더로서는 융점에 근거해 Au-(Sn, Ge, Si)계, Bi-Ag계, Zn-(Al, Sn)계의 극히 제한된 합금계만이 보고되어 왔다. Au계 솔더는 현재 플럭스를 사용하지 않는 광학, 디스플레이 분야 등 고부가가치 공정에 사용되고 있으나, 합금가격이 매우 비싸며 가공성이 나빠 대체재료로서는 적합하지 않다. Bi-Ag계 솔더 또한 취성합금으로 와이어 및 박판으로 가공하는데 어려움이 크며, 솔더로서 중요한 특성중 하나인 전기전도도 및 열전도도가 나쁜 편이다. 이에 비해, Zn계 합금은 비교적 낮은 합금가격, 적절한 가공성과 뛰어난 인장강도, 우수한 전기전도도 및 열전도도를 지녀, 고온용솔더 대체재료의 유력한 후보로 생각된다.이전 연구에서, 필자의 연구그룹은 Zn-Sn계 합금을 고온용 무연솔더로서 제안한 바 있다. Zn-Sn계 합금은 충분히 높은 융점과 함께, 금속간화합물이 없는 미세조직, 우수한 기계적 특성, 높은 전기전도도 및 열전도도 등의 장점을 나타내었다. 본 연구에서는 기초합금특성상 고온솔더로서 다양한 장점을 지닌 Zn-30wt%Sn합금을 고온용 솔더의 대표적인 적용의 하나인 다이본딩에 적용하여, 접합부의 강도 및 미세조직, 열피로 신뢰성에 대해 분석을 함으로서 실제 공정에의 적용가능성에 대해 검토하였다. Zn-30wt%Sn을 이용해 Au/TiN(Titanium nitride) 코팅한 Si다이를 AlN-DBC(aluminum nitride-direct bonded copper)기판에 접합한 결과, 양측에 완전히 젖은 기공이 없는 양호한 다이접합부를 얻었으며, 솔더내부에는 금속간화합물을 형성하지 않았다. Si다이와의 계면에는 TiN만이 존재하였으며, Cu와의 계면에는 Cu로부터 $Cu_5Zn_8,\;CuZn_5$의 반응층을 형성하였다. 온도사이클시험을 통한 열피로특성평가에서, Zn-30wt%Sn를 이용한 다이접합부는 1500사이클 지점에서 Cu와 Cu-Zn금속간화합물의 사이에서 피로균열이 형성되며, 접합강도가 크게 감소하였다. 열피로특성 향상을 위해 Cu표면에 TiN코팅을 하여 Zn-30wt%Sn 솔더로 다이접합한 결과, Si다이와 기판 양측에 TiN만으로 구성된 계면을 형성하였으며, TEM관찰을 통해 Zn-30wt%Sn과 극히 미세한 접합계면이 형성하고 있음을 확인하였다. Zn-wt%30Sn솔더와 TiN층의 병용으로 2000사이클까지 미세조직의 변화 및 강도저하가 없는 극히 안정된 고신뢰성의 다이접합부를 얻을 수가 있었다.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.12 no.2 s.35
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• pp.121-128
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• 2005

Solder joints in microelectronic devices are frequently operated at an elevated temperature in service. They also experience plastic deformation caused by temperature excursion and difference in thermal expansion coefficients. Deformed solders can go through a recovery and recrystallization process at an elevated temperature, which would alter their microstructure and mechanical properties. In this study, to predict the changes in mechanical properties of Pb-free solder joints at high temperatures, the high temperature microhardness of several Pb-free and composite solders was measured as a function of temperature, deformation, and annealing condition. Solder alleys investigated include pure Sn, Sn-0.7Cu, Sn-3.5Ag, Sn-3.8Ag-0.7Cu, Sn-2.8Ag-7.0Cu (composite), and Sn-2.7Ag-4.9Cu-2.9Ni (composite). Numbers are all in wt.$\%$ unless specified otherwise. Solder pellets were cast at two cooling rates (0.4 and $7^{\circ}C$/s). The pellets were compressively deformed by $30\%$ and $50\%$ and annealed at $150^{\circ}C$ for 2 days. The microhardness was measured as a function of indentation temperature from 25 to $130^{\circ}C$. Their microstructure was also evaluated to correlate with the changes in microhardness.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.82-82
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• 2010

표면실장 공법을 통해 CSP 패키지를 보드에 실장 하는데 있어 무연솔더 접합부의 신뢰성에 영향을 미치는 인자 중 가장 중요한 것은 접합부에 형성되는 IMC (Intermetallic compound, 금속간화합물)인 것으로 알려져 있다. 접합부의 칩 부분에는 솔더와 칩의 UBM (Under bump metalization)이 접합하여 IMC가 형성되나, 보드 부분에는 솔더와 보드의 UBM 뿐만 아니라 그 사이에 솔더 페이스트가 함께 접합되어 IMC가 형성된다. 본 연구에서는 패키지의 신뢰성 연구를 위해 솔더 페이스트의 유무 및 두께에 따른 무연 솔더 접합부의 미세조직의 변화를 분석하였다. 본 실험에서는 Sn-3.0(Wt.%)Ag-0.5Cu 조성과 본 연구진에 의해 개발된 Sn-Ag-Cu-In 조성의 직경 $450{\mu}m$ 솔더 볼을 사용하였으며, 솔더 페이스트는 상용 Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (ALPHA OM-325)를 사용하였다. 칩은 ENIG (Electroless nickel immersion gold) finish pad가 형성된 CSP (Chip scale package)를, 보드는 OSP (Organic solderability preservative)/Cu finish pad가 형성된 것을 사용하였다. 실험 방법은 보드를 솔더 페이스트 없이 플라즈마 처리 한 것, 솔더 페이스트를 $30{\mu}m$ 두께로 인쇄한 것, $120{\mu}m$의 두께로 인쇄한 것, 이렇게 3가지 조건으로 준비한 후, 솔더 볼이 bumping된 칩을 mounting하여, $242^{\circ}C$의 peak 온도 조건의 oven(1809UL, Heller)에서 reflow를 실시하여 패키지를 형성하였다. 이후 시편은 정밀 연마한 후, OM(Optical Microscopic)과 SEM(scanning electron microscope) 및 EDS(energy dispersive spectroscope)를 사용하여 솔더 접합부 IMC의 미세조직을 관찰, 분석하였다.