• 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.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2002

Bismuth and Indium added Sn-Cu-Ni solder alloy was investigated for a new lead free solder. The thermal, electrical and mechanical properties were characterized for the Sn-0.7%(Cu+Ni) solder alloy by adding 2~5% Bi and 2~ 10% In. The melting point of solder alloy was in range of 200 to $222^{\circ}C$ and the mushy zone was in range of 20 to $37^{\circ}C$. This alloys could be adapted to middle and high temperature solder materials. A new solder alloy composition. Sn-0.7%(Cu+Ni) -3.5%Bi-2%In is very promising with high performance and effective cost. The melting point was $220^{\circ}C$, the mushy zone range was $25^{\circ}C$, and mechanical, electrical and wetting properties were competitive with those of other lead-free solder except the lower elongation value.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.29-35
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• 2003

The Sn-based lead-free solders with varying microstructure were prepared by changing the cooling rate from the melt. Bulky as-cast SnAg, SnAgCu, and SnCu, alloys were cold rolled and thermally stabilized before the creep tests so that there would be very small amount of microstructural change during creep (TS), and thin specimens were water quenched from the melt (WQ) to simulate microstructures of the as-reflowed solders in flip chips. Cooling rates of the WQ specimens were 140∼150 K/sec, and the resultant $\beta-Sn$ globule size was 5∼10 times smaller than that of the TS specimens. Subsequent creep tests showed that the minimum strain rate of TS specimens was about $10_2$ times higher than that of the WQ specimens. Fractographic analyses showed that creep rupture of the TS-SnAgCu specimens occurred by the nucleation of voids on the $Ag_3Sn$ Sn or $Cu_6Sn_5$ particles in the matrix, their subsequent growth by the power-law creep, and inter-linkage of microcracks to form macrocracks which led to the fast failure. On the other hand, no creep voids were found in the WQ specimens due to the mode III shear rupture coming from the thin specimens geometry.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.411-418
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• 2011

The current study investigates the electroplating characteristics of Sn-Cu eutectic micro-bumps electroplated on a Si chip for flip chip application. Under bump metallization (UBM) layers consisting of Cr, Cu, Ni and Au sequentially from bottom to top with the aim of achieving Sn-Cu bumps $10\times10\times6$ ${\mu}m$ in size, with 20${\mu}m$ pitch. In order to determine optimal plating parameters, the polarization curve, current density and plating time were analyzed. Experimental results showed the equilibrium potential from the Sn-Cu polarization curve is -0.465 V, which is attained when Sn-Cu electro-deposition occurred. The thickness of the electroplated bumps increased with rising current density and plating time up to 20 mA/$cm^2$ and 30 min respectively. The near eutectic composition of the Sn-0.72wt%Cu bump was obtained by plating at 10 mA/$cm^2$ for 20 min, and the bump size at these conditions was $10\times10\times6$ ${\mu}m$. The shear strength of the eutectic Sn-Cu bump was 9.0 gf when the shearing tip height was 50% of the bump height.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.248-255
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• 2010

The effect of various alloying elements and melt treatment on the microstructural control of Al-Sn metallic bearing alloy was investigated. The thickness of tin film crystallized around primary aluminum decreased with the addition of 5% Cu in Al-Sn alloy, with tin particles being reduced in size by intervening the Ostwald ripening. With the addition of Si in Al-10%Sn alloy, the tin particles were crystallized with eutectic silicon, resulting in uniform distribution of tin particles. With the addition of Cu and Si in Al-Sn alloy, both the tensile strength and yield strength increased, with the increasing rate of yield strength being less than that of tensile strength. Although the Al-10%Sn-7%Si alloy has similar tensile strength compared with Al-10%Sn-5%Cu, the former showed superior abrasion resistance, resulting from preventing the tin particles from movement to the abrasion surface.

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.63-67
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• 2003

Electromigration characteristics of $SnAg_3Cu_{0.7}$ and eutectic SnPb solder were studied using thin stripe-type test structures. Significant changes in the microstructure of two solders were observed after electromigration test, in which the temperature and the current density were varied from 90 to $110^{\circ}C$ and from $4.0\times10^4\;A/cm^2\;to\;9.2\times10^4\;A/cm^2$. In SnAgCu solders, hillocks were main]y observed near the anode end. From resistance measurements, it was calculated that the activation energy of the SnAgCu solder for electromigration was 1.04 eV And in eutectic SnPb without the effect of pads, while depleted region was found near cathode end, Sn-rich hillocks were observed near the anode end. During eutectic SnPb electromigration, it were observed that electromigration behavior had two migration modes.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.71-77
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• 2007

In this study, the mechanical and electrical properties of three different ball grid array (BGA) solder joints, consisting of Sn-37Pb, Sn-3.5Ag and Sn-3.5Ag-0.75Cu (all wt.%), with organic solderability preservative (OSP)-finished Cu pads were investigated as a function of reflow number. Based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis results, a continuous $Cu_6Sn5$, intermetallic compound (IMC) layer was formed at the solder/substrate interface, which grew with increasing reflow number. The ball shear testing results showed that the shear force peaked after 3 reflows (in case of Sn-Ag solder, 4 reflows), and then decreased with increasing reflow number. The electrical property of the joint gradually decreased with increasing reflow number.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.217-220
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• 2014

We studied the plating properties of Sn-Pb solder according to the shape of the Cu wire's cross-section for photovoltaic ribbon. The thickness of the Sn-Pb layer largely decreased to 29% on a curved Cu surface, compared to a flat Cu surface. This phenomenon is caused by the geometrical decrease in the contact angle of the liquid Sn-Pb solder and an increase in the surface energy of the solid/vapor on the curved Cu surface. We suggest a new ribbon's design where the Cu wire's cross-section is a semi-ellipse. These semi-ellipse ribbons can decrease the use of Sn-Pb solder to 64% and increase the photovoltaic efficiency, by reducing the contact area between the ribbon and cell, to 84%. We also see an improvement of reflectivity in the curved surface.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.39-48
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• 2022

A Se-containing Cu/SnSe₂/ZnSe precursor was employed to introduce S to the precursor to form Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ (CZTSSe) film. The morphology of CZTSSe films strongly varied with two different pre-annealing environments: S and N₂. The CZTSSe film with S pre-annealing showed a dense morphology with a smooth surface, while that with N₂ pre-annealing showed a porous film with a plate-shaped grains on the surface. CuS and Cu₂Sn(S,Se)₃ phases formed during the S pre-annealing stage, while SnSe and Cu₂SnSe₃ phases formed during the N₂ pre-annealing stage. The SnSe phase formed during N₂ pre-annealing generated SnS₂ phase that had plate shape and severely aggravated the morphology of CZTSSe film. The power conversion efficiency of the CZTSSe solar cell with S pre-annealing was low (1.9%) due to existence of Zn(S.Se) layer between CZTSSe and Mo substrate. The results indicated that S pre-annealing of the precursor was a promising method to achieve a good morphology for large area application.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 2011

SnAgCu lead-free solder alloy is considered as the best alternative to eutectic tin-lead solder. However, the detailed material properties of SnAgCu solder are not available in public. Hence, this paper presents an estimation of mechanical properties of SnAgCu lead-free solder. In particular, the weight percent of Ag was varied as 1.0wt%, 2.5wt%, 3.0wt%, and 4.5wt% in order to estimate the effect of Ag in the Sn-xAg-0.5Cu ternary alloy system. For this purpose, four types of SnAgCu bars were first molded by casting and then standard specimens were cut out of molded bars. Micro-Vickers hardness, tensile tests were finally performed to estimate the variations in mechanical properties according to the weight percent of Ag. Test results reveal that the higher the weight percent of Ag is, the higher the hardness, yield strength, and ultimate tensile strength become. More material properties will be further investigated in the future work.