• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.148-156
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of Pb-Free Sn-2%Ag-Bi solder alloys. The solder alloys used in this study is Sn-2%Ag-(3,5,7,9%) Bi It is examined that their properties such as melting range, wettability, microstructure, microhardness, and tensile property. The addition of Bi(3,5,7,9%) lowered the melting point of the solder and the melting range was 196~203$^{\circ}C$. The wettability of the solder as equal to that of Sn-37% Pb solder. The morphology of structure did not change largely by addition of Bi. But the structure of cellular dendrite of linear type displayed. The tensile strength of the solder was superior to that of Sn-37%Pb solder. But the elongation was inferior to that of Sn-37%Pb solder. The hardness of Sn-2%Ag solder was tow times and that of Sn-2%Ag-Bi solder was three times of that in Sn-37%Pb solder. But the effect of increment of Bi content did not change largely.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2002

As environmental concerns increasing, the electronics industry is focusing more attention on lead free solder alternatives. In this research, we have researched wettability of intermediate solder of Sn3Ag9Bi5In, which include In and Bi and has similar melting temperature to Sn37Pb eutectic solder. We investigated the wetting property of Sn3Ag9Bi5In. To estimate wettability of Sn3Ag9Bi5In solder on various substrates, the wettability of Sn3Ag9Bi5In solder on high-pure Cu-coupon was measured. Cu-coupon that plated Sn, Ni and Au/Ni and Si-wafer adsorbed Ni/Cu under bump metallurgy on one side. As a result, the wetting property of Sn3Ag9Bi5In solder is a little better than that of Sn37Pb and Sn3.5Ag.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.92-98
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• 2003

This paper describes the numerical prediction of the thermal fatigue life of a $\mu$BGA(Micro Ball Grid Array) solder joint. Finite element analysis(FEA) was employed to simulate thermal cycling loading for solder joint reliability. Strain values, along with the result of mechanical fatigue tests for solder alloys were then used to predict the solder joint fatigue life using the Coffin-Manson equation. The results show that Sn-3.5mass%Ag solder had the longest thermal fatigue life in low cycle fatigue. Also a practical correlation for the prediction of the thermal fatigue life was suggested by using the dimensionless variable ${\gamma}$, which was possible to use several lead free solder alloys for prediction of thermal fatigue life. Furthermore, when the contact angle of the ball and chip has 50 degrees, solder joint has longest fatigue life.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.8
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• pp.500-507
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• 2009

Pb-free solder has recently been used in electronics in efforts to meet environmental regulations, and a number of Pb-free solder alloy choices beyond the near-eutectic SnAgCu solder are now available. With increased demand for thin and portable electronics, the high cost of alloys containing significant amounts of silver and their poor mechanical shock performance have spurred the development of low Ag SnAgCu solder, which provides improved mechanical performance at a reasonable cost. Although low Ag SnAgCu solder exhibits significantly higher fracture resistance under high-strain rates, little thermal fatigue data exist for this solder. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate thermal fatigue reliability of low Ag SnAgCu solder under variation of thermal stress in order to allow its implementation in electronic products with high reliability requirements. In this study, the reliability of Sn0.3Ag0.7Cu(SAC0307), a low Ag solder alloy, is discussed and compared with that of Sn3Ag0.5Cu(SAC305). Three sample types and six samples size are evaluated. Mechanical properties and microstructure of the solder joint are investigated under thermal shock cycles. It was observed that the mechanical strength of SAC0307 dropped slightly with thermal cycling relative to that of SAC305. This reveals that the failure mode of SAC0307 is different from that SAC305 under this critical condition.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.157-166
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• 1998

Recently as environmental pollution caused by Pb has posed a serious threat to the global environment, the trend to regulate the usage of Pb in electronic industry is one the rise. Currently, the solder alloy with high Pb content, Sn-37%Pb, is utilized in the electronic assembly therefore, the objective of this study is to develop an alternative solder alloy for the existing Sn-37%Pb solder alloy. First thing, this work choosed Sn-5%Pb-1.5%Ag, Sn-5%Pb-1.5%Ag-x%Bi(x=1~5%) for candidate solder alloys, and examined their properties such as melting range, wettability, microhardness, tensile property, oxidation behavior and microstructure. Wettability was on the same level of Sn-37%Pb. Dissolution of Pb ion in Sn-5%Pb solder was 0.46ppm. This solder alloy revealed cellular dendrite microstructure $\beta$-Sn matrix, Pb-rich phase, Ag/Sn, and Cu/Sn Intermetallic compounds. The range of solidification temperature was within 3$0^{\circ}C$. Also these alloy displayed higher tensile strength and lower elongation than Sn-37%Pb. The resistance of oxidation in Sn-5%Pb-1.5%Ag solder alloy was superior to that of Sn-37%Pb solder alloy. But that of Sn-5%Pb-1.5%Ag-5%Bi solder alloy was equal to that of Sn-37%Pb solder alloy.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.332-337
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• 2015

We have studied the effects of Ag on the characteristics of $Sn_{60}Pb_{40}Ag_x$ (wt%) solder for photovoltaic ribbon. Ag atoms in the solder formed an alloy phase of $Ag_3Sn$ after reacting with some part of Sn atoms, while they did not react with Pb atoms, but decreased the mean size of Pb solid phase. The enhancement of peel strength between solar cell and ribbon is an important part in the developments of long-lifespan solar module. The peel strength of the solder ribbon of $Sn_{60}Pb_{40}$ (wt%) was $169N/mm^2$, and it was largely enhanced by adding a small amount of Ag atoms. The maximum peel strength was $295N/mm^2$ in the solder ribbon of $Sn_{60}Pb_{40}Ag_2$ (wt%). This result is caused by the high binding energy of 162.9 kJ/mol between Ag atoms in the solder and Ag atoms in Ag sheet.

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.106-109
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• 2003

With the variation of Ag concentration in bath, current density, additive and agitation for electroplating of Sn-Ag solder, the compositions and the morphologies of solder were studied. It was possible to control Ag content in Sn-Ag solder by varying Ag concentration in bath and current density The microstructure size of Sn-Ag solder decreased with increasing current density. Duty cycle of pulse electroplating and quantity of additive affected on Ag content of deposit and surface roughness. In this work eutectic Sn-Ag solder bumps with fine pitch of 30m and height of 15m was formed successfully. The Ag content of electrodeposited solder was confirmed by EDS and WDS analyses and the surface morphologies was analyzed by SEM and 3D surface analyzer.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.77-81
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• 2002

Many kinds of Pb-free solder have been investigated because of the environmental concerns. Sn-Ag-Cu system is well blown as most competitive Pb-free solder. However, since Sn-Ag-Cu system has relatively high melting point compared to Sn-Pb eutectic, it may a limitation, the some application. In this study, Bi and In contained solder of $Sn_3Ag_8Bi_5In$ which has relatively lower melting point, $188~204^{\circ}C$, was investigated. $Sn_3Ag_8Bi_5In$ solder ball of $500\mu\textrm{m}$ diameter was set on the Ni/Cu/Cr-UBM and reflow soldered in the range of $220~240^{\circ}C$ for 5~15s. The maximum shear strength of the solder ball was around 170mN by reflowing at $240^{\circ}C$ for 10s. Intermetallic compound formed on the UBM of Si-wafer was analysed by SEM(scanning electron microscope) and XRD(X-ray diffractometer).

• Journal of Applied Reliability
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2013

The solder is any of various fusible alloys, usually tin and lead, used to join metallic parts that provide the contact between the chip package and the printed circuit board. Solder plays an important role of electrical signals to communicate between the two components. In this study, two kinds of Ag-free solder as sample is made to conduct the thermal shock test and the high humidity temperature test. Low resistance is measured to estimate crack size of solder, using daisy chain. The low speed shear test is also performed to analyze strength of solder. The appropriate degradation model is estimated using the result data. Depending on the composition of solder, lifetime estimation is conducted by adopted degradation model. The lifetime estimated two kinds of Ag-free solder is compared with expected lifetime of Sn-Ag-Cu solder. The result is that both Ag-free composition are more reliable than Sn-Ag-Cu solder.

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.67-73
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• 2001

To investigate the relationships of solder joint characteristics with solder composition and A:V ratio (solder volume per pad area), Sn-37Pb and Sn-4.0Ag-0.5Cu solder balls with 330, 400, 450 and $457{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ size were reflowed on same substrate. Sn-37Pb and Sn-4.0Ag-0.5Cu was reflowed at $220^{\circ}C$ and $240^{\circ}C$ respectively by IR-type soldering machine. As a result of reflowed solder- ball diameter(D) and height(H) measurement, D/H was decreased with solder ball size increment in range of 330~450 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. But, D/H was increased in the solder joint for 457 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ size, it was caused possibly by decrement of solder ball height increment compared with solder volume increment. As a result of shear and pull test, joint strength with A:V ratio was high. Joint strength of Sn-4.0Ag-0.5Cu was higher than Sn-37Pb. However, Sn-37Pb had more stable solder joint of small standard deviation. A thick and clean scallop type Ni-Cu-Sn intermetallic compound layer was formed in high A:V ratio and Sn-4.0Ag-0.5Cu solder joint interface.