• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.783-788
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• 2002

Sn-Ag-Cu solder is known as most competitive in many kinds of Pb-free solders. In this study, effects of solderability with plated layers such as Cu, Cu/Sn, Cu/Ni and Cu/Ni/Au were investigated. Sn-3.5Ag-0.7Cu solder balls were reflowed in commercial reflow machine (peak temp.:$250^{\circ}C$and conveyer speed:0.6m/min). In wetting test, immersion speed was 5mm/sec., immersion time 5sec., immersion depth 4mm and temperature of solder bath was $250^{\circ}C$. Wettability of Sn-3.5Ag-0.7Cu on Cu, Cu/Sn ($5\mu\textrm{m}$), Cu/Ni ($5\mu\textrm{m}$), and Cu/Ni/Au ($5\mu\textrm{m}/500{\AA}$) layers was investigated. Cu/Ni/Au layer had the best wettability as zero cross time and equilibrium force, and the measured values were 0.93 sec and 7mN, respectively. Surface tension of Sn-3.5Ag-0.7Cu solder turmed out to be 0.52N/m. The thickness of IMC is reduced in the order of Cu, Cu/Sn, Cu/Mi and Cu/Ni/Au coated layer. Shear strength of Cu/Ni, Cu/Sn and Cu was around 560gf but Cu/Ni/Au was 370gf.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.45-51
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• 2013

Thermal annealing tests were performed in an in-situ scanning electron microscope chamber at $130^{\circ}C$, $150^{\circ}C$, and $170^{\circ}C$ in order to investigate the effects of solder structure on the growth kinetics of intermetallic compound (IMC) in Cu/Sn-3.5Ag microbump. Cu/Sn-3.5Ag($6{\mu}m$) microbump with spreading solder structure showed $Cu_6Sn_5$ and $Cu_3Sn$ phase growths and then IMC phase transition stages with increasing annealing time. By the way, Cu/Sn-3.5Ag($4{\mu}m$) microbump without solder spreading, remaining solder was transformed to $Cu_6Sn_5$ right after bonding and had only a phase transition of $Cu_6Sn_5$ to $Cu_3Sn$ during annealing. Measured activation energies for the growth of the $Cu_3Sn$ phase during the annealing were 0.80 and 0.71eV for Cu/Sn-3.5Ag($6{\mu}m$) and Cu/Sn-3.5Ag($4{\mu}m$), respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.18-18
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• 2007

지난 수년 동안 Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu 합금은 전자산업의 표준 무연솔더 조성으로 전자제품의 제작에 사용되어져 왔으며, 그 신뢰성도 충분히 검증되어 대표적인 무연 솔더 조성으로의 입지를 굳혀왔다. 그러나 전자제품의 mobile화에 따른 내충격 신뢰성에 대한 요구와 최근의 급격한 Ag 가격의 상승은 Ag 함량의 축소에 의한 원가절감을 요청하게 되었으며, 이에 따라 소량의 Ag를 함유하는 솔더 조성 개발에 대한 연구가 산업 현장을 중심으로 절실히 요청되고 있다. Sn-Ag-Cu의 3원계 함긍에서 Ag는 합금의 융점을 낮추고, 강도와 같은 합금의 기계적 특성을 증가시키는 한편, 모재에 대한 합금의 젖음성을 향상시키는데 필수적인 원소로 인식되고 있다. 따라서 Sn-Ag-Cu의 3원계 함금에서 Ag의 함량을 감소시키게 되면, 합금액 액상선 온도와 고상선 온도가 벌어져 pasty range(또는 mush zone)가 증가하게 되고, wettability도 감소하게 되어 솔더 합금으로서의 요구 특성을 많이 상실하게 된다. 또한 Ag 함량을 감소시키게 되면 합금의 elongation이 향상되면서 내 impact 수명이 향상되는 효과를 볼 수 있으나, 합금의 creep 특성 및 기계적인 강도는 감소하면서 열싸이클링 수명은 감소하는 경향을 나타내게 된다. 따라서 솔더 합금의 내 impact 수명과 열싸이클링 수명을 동시에 만족시키지 위해서는 Ag 함량을 최적화하기 위한 고려가 필요하며, 합금원소에 대한 연구가 요청된다고 하겠다. 한편 Ag의 함량을 3wt.% 이상으로 첨가할 경우에도 비교적 느린 응고 속도에서는 조대한 판상의 $Ag_3Sn$ 상을 형성하는 경향이 있어 외관 물량을 야기 시킬 가능성이 매우 커지는 현상도 보고되고 있다. 따라서 Ag의 첨가량을 최적화 하면서 솔더 재료로서의 특성을 계속적으로 유지하기 위해서는 제 4 원소의 함유가 필수적이라고 할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 Sn-Ag-Cu계에 첨부하는 제 4원소로서 In을 선택하였다. 비록 In은 Ag보다 고가이기 때문에 산업적인 적용을 위한 솔더 합금 원소로는 거의 각광받지 못했으나, 본 연구의 결과로는 In은 매우 소량 첨가할 경우에도 Sn-Ag-Cu계 합금, 특히 소량의 Ag를 함유하는 Sn-Ag-Cu계 합금의 wettabilty와 기계적 특성 향상에 매우 효과적임을 알 수 있었다. 결론적으로 본 연구를 통해 구현된 Sn-Ag-Cu-In계 최적 솔더 조성의 경우 Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu의 표준 조성에 비하여 약 18%의 원자재 가격 절감을 도모할 수 있을 것으로 예상되는 한편. Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu에 유사하거나 우수한 wettability 특성을 나타내었고. Sn-1.0Ag-0.5Cu 또는 Sn-l.2Ag-0.5Cu-0.05Ni 조성보다는 월등히 우수한 wettability 특성을 나타내었다. 더구나 Sn-Ag-Cu-In계 최적 솔더 조성은 합금의 강도 저하는 최소화 시키면서 합금의 elongation은 극적으로 향상시켜 합금의 toughness 값이 매우 우수한 특성을 가짐을 알 수 있었다. 이렇게 우수한 toughness 값은 솔더 조인트의 대표적 신뢰성 요구 특성인 열싸이클링 수명과 내 impact 수명을 동시에 향상시킬 수 있을 것으로 예상된다. 요컨대 본 연구를 통해 구현된 Sn-Ag-Cu-In계 솔더 조성은 최적 솔더 조성에서 요구되는 4가지 인자, 즉, 저렴한 원재료 가격, 우수한 wettability 특성, 합금 자체의 높은 toughness, 안정하고 낮은 성장 속도의 계면 반응층 생성을 모두 만족시키는 특징을 가짐으로서 기존 무연솔더 조성의 새로운 대안으로 자리 잡을 것으로 기대된다.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.598-603
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• 2005

To develope new lead-free solders with the melting temperature close to that of Sn-37Pb$(183^{\circ}C)$, Sn-0.7Cu-5Pb-1Ga, Sn-0.7Cu-5Pb-1Ag, Sn-0.7Cu-5Pb-5Bi-1Ag, and Sn-0.7Cu-SBi-1Ag alloys were composed by adding low-netting elements such as Ga, Bi, Pb, and Ag to Sn-0.7Cu. Then the melting temperatures, microstructures, wettability, and adhesion properties of these alloys were evaluated. DSC analysis showed that the melting temperature of Sn-0.7Cu-SPb-1Ga was $211^{\circ}C$, and those of other alloys was in the range of $192\~200^{\circ}C$. Microstructures of these alloys after heat-treatment at $150^{\circ}C$ for 24 hrs were basically composed of coarsely- grown $\beta-Sn$ grains, and $Cu_6Sn_5$ and $Ag_3Sn$ intermetallic precipitates. Sn-0.7Cu-5Pb-1Ga and Sn-0.7Cu-5Pb-5Bi-1Ag showed excellent wettability, while Sn-0.7Cu-5Bi-1Ag and Sn-0.7Cu-5Pb-5Bi-1Ag revealed good adhesion strength with the Cu substrates. Among 4 alloys, Sn-0.7Cu-5Pb-5Bi-1Ag with the lowest melting temperature $(192^{\circ}C)$ and relatively excellent wettability and adhesion strength was suggested to be the best candidate solder to replace Sn-37Pb.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.9 no.7
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• pp.747-752
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• 1999

The interfacial reaction and joint properties of Sn-3.5Ag/Cu and Sn-3.5Ag-1Zn/Cu joint were studied. Modified double lap shear solder joints of Sn-3.5Ag and Sn-3.5Ag- lZn solder were aged for 60days at $100^{\circ}C$ and $150^{\circ}C$ and then loaded to failure in shear. The Sn-3.5Ag/Cu had a fast growth rate of the reaction layer in comparison with the Sn-3.5Ag-lZn at the aging temperature of $150^{\circ}C$ Through the SEM/EDS analysis of solder joint, it was proved that intermatallic layer was $Cu_{6}Sn_5$ phase and aged specimens showed that intermatallic layer grew in proportion to $t_{1/2}$, and the precipitate of $Ag_3Sn$ occur to both inner layer and interface of layer and solder. In case of Zn-containing composite solder, $Cu_{6}Sn_{5}$ phase formed at the side of substrate and $Cu_{5}Zn_{8}$ phase formed at the other side in double layer. The shear strength of the Sn-3.5Ag/Cu joint improved by addition of IZn. The strength of the joint increases with strain rate and decreases with aging temperature

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2002

The intermetallic formation between Sn-Ag-(Cu) solders and metal pads in a real BGA package was characterized using SEM, EDS, and XRD. The intermetallic phase formed in the interface between Sn-Ag-Cu and Au/Ni/Cu pad is likely to be ternary compound of $(Cu,Ni)_6Sn_5$ from EDS analysis High concentration of Cu was observed in the solder/Ni interface. XRD analysis confirmed that $\eta -Cu_6 Sn_5$ type was intermetallic phase formed in the interface between Cu containing solders and Ni substrates and $Ni_3$Sn_4$ intermetallic was formed in the Sn-Ag solder/Ni interface. The thickness of intermetallic phase increased with the reflow times and Cu concentration in solder.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2000

To make stacked chip packages far high-density packaging of memory chips used in workstations or PC severs, several lead-frames are to be connected vertically. Fer this purpose. Sn or Sn/Ag were electrochemically deposited on Cu lead-frames and their microstructures were examined by XRD and SEM. Then, two specimens were annealed at $250^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. and pressed to be joined. The shear stresses of joined lead-frames were measured fur comparison. In the case of Sn only, $Cu_3Sn$ was formed by the reaction of Sn and Cu lead-frames. In the case of Sn/Ag, besides $Cu_3Sn$. $Ag_3Sn$ was formed by the reaction of Sn and Ag. Compared to joined specimens made from Sn only, those made from Sn/Ag showed 1.2 times higher shear stress. This was attributed to the $Ag_3Sn$ phase formed at the joined interface.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.450-455
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• 2002

Cu-cored Sn-Ag solder balls were fabricated by coating pure Sn and Ag on Cu balls. The melting behavior and the solderability of the BGA joint with the Ni/Au coated Cu pad were investigated and were compared with those of the commercial Sn-Ag and Sn-Ag-Cu balls. DSC analyses clarified the melting of Cu-cored solders to start at a rather low temperature, the eutectic temperature of Sn-Ag-Cu. It was ascribed to the diffusion of Cu and Ag into Sn plating during the heating process. After reflow soldering the microstructures of the solder and of the interfacial layer between the solder and the Cu pad were analyzed with SEM and EPMA. By EDX analysis, formation of a eutectic microstructure composing of $\beta$-Sn, Ag$_3$Sn, ad Cu$_{6}$Sn$_{5}$ phases was confirmed in the solder, and the η'-(Au, Co, Cu, Ni)$_{6}$Sn$_{5}$ reaction layer was found to form at the interface between the solder and the Cu pad. By conducting shear tests, it was found that the BGA joint using Cu-cored solder ball could prevent the degradation of joint strength during aging at 423K because of the slower growth me of η'-(Au, Co, Cu, Ni)$_{6}$Sn$_{5}$ reaction layer formed at the solder, pad interface. Furthermore, Cu-cored multi-component Sn-Ag-Bi balls were fabricated by sequentially coating the binary Sn-Ag and Sn-Bi solders on Cu balls. The reflow property of these solder balls was investigated. Melting of these solder balls was clarified to start at the almost same temperature as that of Sn-2Ag-0.75Cu-3Bi solder. A microstructure composing of (Sn), Ag$_3$Sn, Bi and Cu$_{6}$Sn$_{5}$ phases was found to form in the solder ball, and a reaction layer containing primarily η'-(Au, Co, Cu, Ni)$_{6}$Sn$_{5}$ was found at the interface with Ni/Au coated Cu pad after reflow soldering. By conducting shear test, it was found that the BGA joints using this Cu-core solder balls hardly degraded their joint shear strength during aging at 423K due to the slower growth rate of the η'-(Au, Cu, Ni)$_{6}$Sn$_{5}$ reaction layer at the solder/pad interface.he solder/pad interface.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.94-98
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• 2017

In the past few years, Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (weight%) solder composition has been a representative material to electronic industries as a replacement of Pb-base solder alloy. Therefore, extensive studies on process and/or reliability related with the composition have been reported. However, recent rapid rise in Ag price has demanded solder compositions of low Ag content. In this study, Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder bar sample was fabricated by melting of Sn, Ag and Cu metal powders. Crystal structure and element concentration were analyzed by XRD, optical microscope, FE-SEM and EDS. The Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder sample was composed of ${\beta}$-Sn, ${\varepsilon}-Ag_3Sn$ and ${\eta}-Cu_6Sn_5$ phases.