• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.27-31
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• 2009

Sn whiskers can grow from the pure Sn and high Sn-based finish and cause the electrical shorts and failures. Even with the wealth of information on whiskers, we have neither the clear understanding of whisker growth nor methods for its prevention. In this study, the whisker grain roots which connected with intermetallic layer were analyzed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). In the Sn-Cu plated leadframe (LF) that was stored at ambient condition for 540 days, filament-shaped whiskers were grown on the Sn-plated surface and ${\eta}'-Cu_6Sn_5$ precipitates were widely distributed along the grain boundaries at the Sn matrix. The measured of the lattice fringes at the ${\eta}'-Cu_6Sn_5$ was $4.71{\AA}$ at the coarse grain and $2.91{\AA}$ at the fine grain. The $Cu_3Sn$ which generates the tensile stresses was not observed. The formation of $Cu_6Sn_5$ precipitates and intermetallic layer were strongly related to whisker growth, but, the whisker growth tendency does not closely relate with the geometric morphology of irregularly grown intermetallic compound (lMC).

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.17-21
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• 2013

Sn whiskers are one of the serious causes of the failure of electronics. Sn whiskers grow spontaneously from Sn-based, lead-free finished surfaces, even at room temperature. A primary factor of these Sn whiskers growth is compressive stress, which enhances the diffusion of Sn or other elements. The sources of compressive stress are the growth of non-uniform large intermetallic compounds along the interface between the Sn grain boundary and Cu substrate. Recent studies revealed the methods for reducing Sn whisker growth. This paper gives an overview about recent researches for mitigation methods of Sn whisker growth during nearly room temperature storage.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.11 no.3 s.32
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• pp.1-7
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• 2004

Tin plating on component finishes may grow whiskers under certain conditions, which may cause failures in electronics equipment. To protect the environment, 'lead-free' among component finishes is being promoted worldwide. This paper presents the evaluation results of whiskers on two kinds of lead-free plating materials at the plating temperature and under the reliability test. The rising plating temperature caused increasing the size of plating grain and shorting the growth of whisker. The whisker was grown under the temperature cycling the bent type in matt Sn plating and striated type in malt Sn-Bi. The whisker growth in Sn-Bi plating was shorter than that in Sn plating. In FeNi42 leadframe, the $7.0{\~}10.0{\mu}m$ diameter and the $25.0{\~}45.0{\mu}m$ long whisker was grown under 300 cycles. In the 300 cycles of Cu leadframe, only the nodule(nuclear state) grew on the surface, and in the 600 cycles, a $3.0{\~}4.0{\mu}m$ short whisker grew. After 600 cycles, the ${\~}0.34{\mu}m$ thin $Ni_3Sn_4$ formed on the Sn-plated FeNi42. However, we observed the amount of $0.76{\~}1.14{\mu}m$ thick $Cu_6Sn_5$ and ${\~}0.27{\mu}m$ thin $Cu_3Sn$ intermetallics were observed between the Sn and Cu interfaces. Therefore, the main growth factor of a whisker is the intermetallic compound in the Cu leadframe, and the coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch in FeNi42.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.7-12
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• 2012

Sn whiskers are a serious cause of failure in electronic devices as they create short circuits. Sn whisker growth and mitigation have been investigated by many Japanese consortia including JEITA and JAXA. This paper gives an overview about recent researches of JEITA and JAXA.

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.57-57
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• 2004

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.147-163
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• 2003

European Union bans the usage of Pb in electronics from July 1 st, 2006. The Near-eutectic Sn-Ag-Cu alloys are the leading candidate Pb-free solders (for SMT card assembly). .The microstructure of Sn-Ag-Cu alloys is discussed in terms of solidification, composition and cooling rate. Methods of controlling Ag3Sn plates are discussed. .Thermo-mechanical fatigue behaviors of Sn-Ag-Cu solder joints are reviewed. Tin pest, whisker growth, electromigration of Pb-free solders are discussed.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.230-232
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• 2006

Eutectic Au-20Sn solder has been widely used for optoelectronic packages because of fluxless soldering process and thus are particularly valuable for many applications such as biomedical, photonic, and MEMS devices that can not use any flux. Also when good joint strength, superior resistance to corrosion, whisker-free, and good thermal conductivity are demanded, eutectic Au-20Sn solder can be satisfied with above-mentions best. In this study, we tried to know the interfacial reactions between Au-20Sn solder and Cu substrate with or without ENIG plating layer In the results, Au-Cu-Sn ternary phases were formed at the Au-20Sn/Cu substrate, and Au-Ni-Sn, Au-Ni-Cu-Sn phases were formed at the Au-20Sn/ENIG substrate.

• 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 ${\eta}-Cu_{6.26}Sn_5$.

• 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.

• Clean Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.153-164
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• 2005

This study found a reliable evaluation for four kinds of pb-Free plating solutions and it's layers, through pure Sn, SnAg, SnBi and SnCu. These four kind of solutions are widely used to pb-Free plating. Hull-cell, Harring-blum, coverage, throwing power, current efficiency, stability, life-time, composition, hardness, roughness, abrasion, scratch, solderability, corrosion, contact angle, morphology, SIR(Surface insulation resistance) and Whisker test were experimented. Also, Using ICP, XRF, FE-SEM, EDS, temperature/humidity chamber, solderability tester, hardness tester, roughness tester, abrasion tester, salt spray tester, contact angle tester, SIR tester, and microscope. In this paper could be shown the systematic and various analysis for reliability about four kinds of pb-Free plating solutions, processes and it's deposit surface.