• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.21-27
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• 2006

This study was focused on the evaluation of the thermo-mechanical board-level reliability of Pb-bearing and Pb-free surface mount assemblies. The composition of Pb-bearing solder was a typical Sn-37Pb and that of Pb-free solder used in this study was a representative Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu in mass %. Thermal shock test was chosen for the reliability evaluation of the solder joints. Typical $Cu_6Sn_5$ intermetallic compound (IMC) layer was formed between both solders and Cu lead frame at the as-reflowed state, while a layer of $Cu_3Sn$ was additionally formed between the $Cu_6Sn_5$ and Cu lead frame during the thermal shock testing. Thickness of the IMC layers increased with increasing thermal shock cycles, and this is very similar result with that of isothermal aging study of solder joints. Shear test of the multi layer ceramic capacitor(MLCC) joints was also performed to investigate the degradation of mechanical bonding strength of solder joints during the thermal shock testing. Failure mode of the joints after shear testing revealed that the degradation was mainly due to the excessive growth of the IMC layers during the thermal shock testing.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.25-31
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• 2015

Due to environmental regulations (RoHS, WEEE and ELV) of the European Union, electronics and automotive electronics have to eliminate toxic substance from electronic devices and system. Specifically, reliability issue of lead-free solder joint have an increasing demand for the car electronics caused by ELV banning. The authors prepared engine control unit and cabin electronics soldered with Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC305). To compare with the degradation characteristics of solder joint strength, thermal cycling test (TC), power-thermal cycling test (PTC) and series tests were conducted. Series tests were conducted for TC and PTC combined stress test using the same sample in sequence and continuously. TC test was performed at $-40{\sim}125^{\circ}C$ and soak time 10 min for 1000 cycles. PTC test was applied by pulse power and full function conditions during 100 cycles. Combined stress test was tested in accordance with automotive company standard. Solder joint degradation was observed by optical microscopy and environment scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). In addition, to compare with deterioration of bond strength of quad flat package (QFP) and chip components, we have measured lead pull and shear strength. Based on the series test results, consequently, we have validated of series test method for lifetime and reliability of Pb-free solder joint in automotive electronics.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.152-159
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• 2007

When the electronics are tested with thermal shock for Pb-free solder joint reliability, there are temperature conditions with use environment but number of cycles for test don't clearly exist. To obtain the long term reliability data, electronic companies have spent the cost and times. Therefore this studies show the test method and number of thermal shock cycles for evaluating the solder joint reliability of electronic components and also research bonding strength variation with formation and growth of intermetallic compounds (IMC). SMD (surface mount device) 3216 chip resistor and 44 pin QFP (quad flat package) was utilized for experiments and each components were soldered with Sn-40Pb and Sn-3.0 Ag-0.5 Cu solder on the FR-4 PCB(printed circuit board) using by reflow soldering process. To reliability evaluation, thermal shock test was conducted between $-40^{\circ}C\;and\;+125^{\circ}C$ for 2,000 cycles, 10 minute dwell time, respectively. Also we analyzed the IMCs of solder joint using by SEM and EDX. To compare with bonding strength, resistor and QFP were tested shear strength and $45^{\circ}$ lead pull strength, respectively. From these results, optimized number of cycles was proposed with variation of bonding strength under thermal shock.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.528-535
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• 2005

It is inclined to increase that use of hazardous substances such as lead(Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium(Cd) etc. are prohibited in the electronics according to environmental friendly policies of an advanced nation for protecting environment of earth. As this reasons, many researches for ensuring the reliability were proceeding in Pb free soldering process. n the flux remains on the PCB(printed circuit board) in the soldering process or the electronics exposed to corrosive environment, it becomes the reasons of breakdown or malfunction of the electronics caused by corrosion. Therefore in this studies we researched the polarization and Tafel properties of Sn40Pb and SnCu system solders based on the electrochemical theory. The experimental polarization curves were measured in distilled ionized water and 1 mole $3.5 wt\%$ NaCl electrolyte of $40^{\circ}C$, pH 7.5. Ag/AgCl and graphite were utilized by reference and counter electrodes, respectively. To observe the electrochemical reaction, polarization test was conducted from -250mV to +250mV. From the polarization curves composed of anodic and cathodic curves, we obtained Tafel slop, reversible electrode potential(Ecorr) and exchange current density((cow). In these results, we compared the corrosion rate of SnPb and SnCu solders.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.536-542
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• 2005

Recently European Council(EU) published the RoHS(restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment) which is prohibit the use of Pb, Hg, Cd, $Cr^{+6}$, PBB or PBDE in the electrical and electronic equipments. So EU member States shall ensure that, from 1 July 2006, new electrical and electronic equipment put on the market does not contain 6 hazardous substances. The one of the most important in electronics manufacturing process is soldering. Soldering process use the chemical substances which are applied in fluxing and cleaning processes and it can generate the malfunction of electronics caused by corrosion in the fields conditions. Therefore this study researched on the polarization and Tafel properties of Sn40Pb and Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu(SAC) solder based on the electrochemical theory. We prepared SnPb specimens which was aged in $150^{\circ}C,\;180^{\circ}C$ for 15 minutes ana Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu specimens that was aged in $180^{\circ}C,\;220^{\circ}C$ for 10 minutes. Experimental polarization curves were measured in distilled ionized water and $3.5 wt\%$, 1 mole NaCl electrolyte of $40^{\circ}C$, pH 7.5. Ag/AgCl and graphite were utilized by reference and counter electrode, respectively. To observe the electrochemical reaction, polarization test was conducted from -250 mV to +250 mV. From the polarization curves that were composed of anodic and cathodic curves, we obtained Tafel slop, reversible electrode potential(Ecorr) and exchange current density(Icorr). In these results, corrosion rate for two specimen were compared Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu with SnPb solders

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.166-173
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• 2014

The effects of printed circuit board electroless nickel immersion gold (ENIG) and organic solderability preservative (OSP) surface finishes on the electromigration reliability and shear strength of Sn-3.5Ag Pb-free solder bump were systematically investigated. In-situ annealing tests were performed in a scanning electron microscope chamber at 130, 150, and $170^{\circ}C$ in order to investigate the growth kinetics of intermetallic compound (IMC). Electromigration lifetime and failure modes were investigated at $150^{\circ}C$ and $1.5{\times}10^5A/cm^2$, while ball shear tests and failure mode analysis were conducted under the high-speed conditions from 10 mm/s to 3000 mm/s. The activation energy of ENIG and OSP surface finishes during annealing were evaluated as 0.84 eV and 0.94 eV, respectively. The solder bumps with ENIG surface finish showed longer electromigration lifetime than OSP surface finish. Shear strengths between ENIG and OSP were similar, and the shear energies decreased with increasing shear speed. Failure analysis showed that electrical and mechanical reliabilities were very closely related to the interfacial IMC stabilities.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.54-56
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• 2005

Ultrasonic soldering using of Si-wafer to FR-4 PCB atroom temperature was investigated. Sn3.5Ag foil rolled $100{\mu}m$ was used for solder. The UBM of Si-die was Cu/ Ni/ Al from top to bottom and its thickness was $0.4{\mu}m$, $0.4{\mu}m$, $0.3{\mu}m$ respectively. Pad on FR-4 PCB comprised of Au/ Ni/ Cu from top to bottom and its thickness was $0.05{\mu}m$, $5{\mu}m$, $18{\mu}m$ respectively. The ultrasonic soldering time was changed from 0.5sec to 3.0sec and its power 1400W. As experimental result, reliable bond joint by ultrasonic at room temperature was obtained. The shear strength increased with soldering time up to 2.5 sec. That means at 2.5sec, the shear strength showed maximum rate of 65.23N. The strength decreased to 33.90N at 3.0 sec because the cracks generated along the intermetallic compound between Si-wafer and Sn-3.5mass%Ag solder. intermetallic compound produced by ultrasonic between the solder and the Si-die was $(Cu, Ni)_{6}Sn_{5}$ and the intermetallic compound between solder and pad on FR-4 was $(Ni, Cu)_{3}Sn_{4}$.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.7-14
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• 2017

The effect of high temperature-moisture on corrosion and mechanical properties for Sn-0.7Cu, Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC305) solders on flexible substrate was studied using Highly Accelerated Temperature/Humidity Stress Test (HAST) followed by three-point bending test. Both Sn-0.7Cu and SAC305 solders produced the internal $SnO_2$ oxides. Corrosion occurred between the solder and water film near flexible circuit board/copper component. For the SAC305 solder with Ag content, furthermore, octahedral corrosion products were formed near Ag3Sn. For the SAC305 and Sn-0.7Cu solders, the amount of internal oxide increased with the HAST time and the amount of internal oxides was mostly constant regardless of Ag content. The size of the internal oxide was larger for the Sn-0.7Cu solder. Despite of different size of the internal oxide, the fracture time during three-point bending test was not significantly changed. It was because the bending crack was always initiated from the three-point corner of the chip. However, the crack propagation depended on the oxides between the flexible circuit board and the Cu chip. The fracture time of the three-point bending test was dependent more on the crack initiation than on the crack propagation.

• 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.22 no.10
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• pp.545-551
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• 2012

In semiconductor manufacturing, the circuit integrity of packaged BGA devices is tested by measuring electrical resistance using test sockets. Test sockets have been reported to often fail earlier than the expected life-time due to high contact resistance. This has been attributed to the formation of Sn oxide films on the Au coating layer of the probe pins loaded on the socket. Similar to contact failure, and known as "fretting", this process widely occurs between two conductive surfaces due to the continual rupture and accumulation of oxide films. However, the failure mechanism at the probe pin differs from fretting. In this study, the microstructural processes and formation mechanisms of Sn oxide films developed on the probe pin surface were investigated. Failure analysis was conducted mainly by FIB-FESEM observations, along with EDX, AES, and XRD analyses. Soft and fresh Sn was found to be transferred repeatedly from the solder bump to the Au surface of the probe pins; it was then instantly oxidized to SnO. The $SnO_2$ phase is a more stable natural oxide, but SnO has been proved to grow on Sn thin film at low temperature (< $150^{\circ}C$). Further oxidation to $SnO_2$ is thought to be limited to 30%. The SnO film grew layer by layer up to 571 nm after testing of 50,500 cycles (1 nm/100 cycle). This resulted in the increase of contact resistance and thus of signal delay between the probe pin and the solder bump.