• 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.

• 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.