• 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.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.53-57
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• 2013

Although the lowering of Ag content in Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu is known to improve the mechanical shock reliability of the solder joint, it is also known to be detrimental to the solderbility. In this study, the quaternary alloying effect of In and the minor alloying effects of Mn and Pd on the solderability, thermal cycling and mechanical shock reliabilities of the low Ag content Sn-1.2Ag-0.7Cu solder were investigated using board-level BGA packages. The solderability of Sn-1.2Ag-0.7Cu-0.4In was proved to be comparable to that of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu but its thermal cycling reliability was inferior to that of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu. While the 0.03 wt% Pd addition to the Sn-1.2Ag-0.7Cu-0.4In decreased the solderability and reliabilities of solder joint, the 0.1 wt% Mn addition was proved to be beneficial especially for the mechanical shock reliability compared to those of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu and Sn-1.0Ag-0.5Cu compositions. It was considered to be due that the Mn addition decreased the Young's modulus of low Ag content Pb-free solders.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.12
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• pp.842-851
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• 2009

The long-term reliability of Sn-0.3wt%Ag-0.7wt%Cu solder joints was evaluated and compared with Sn-3.0wt%Ag-0.5wt%Cu under thermal shock conditions. Test vehicles were prepared to use Sn-0.3Ag-0.7Cu and Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder alloys. To compare the shear strength of the solder joints, 0603, 1005, 1608, 2012, 3216 and 4232 multi-layer ceramic chip capacitors were used. A reflow soldering process was utilized in the preparation of the test vehicles involving a FR-4 material-based printed circuit board (PCB). To compare the shear strength degradation following the thermal shock cycles, a thermal shock test was conducted up to 2,000 cycles at temperatures ranging from $-40^{\circ}C$ to $85^{\circ}C$, with a dwell time of 30 min at each temperature. The shear strength of the solder joints of the chip capacitors was measured at every 500 cycles in each case. The intermetallic compounds (IMCs) of the solder joint interfaces werealso analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed that the reliability of Sn-0.3Ag-0.7Cu solder joints was very close to that of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu. Consequently, it was confirmed that Sn-0.3Ag-0.7Cu solder alloy with a low silver content can be replaced with Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.257-263
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• 2006

We have investigated the effect of silver added to Cu films on the microstructure evolution, resistivity, surface morphology, stress relaxation temperature, and adhesion properties of Cu(Ag) alloy thin films deposited on Mo glue layer upon annealing. In addition, pure Cu films deposited on Mo has been annealed and compared. The results show that the silver in Cu(Ag) thin films control the grain growth through the coarsening of its precipitates upon annealing at $300^{\circ}C{\sim}600^{\circ}C$ and the grain growth of Cu reveals the activation energy of 0.22 eV, approximately one third of activation energy for diffusion of Ag dopant along the grain boundaries in Cu matrix (0.75 eV). This indicates that the grain growth can be controlled by Ag diffusion along the grain boundaries. In addition, the grain growth can be a major contributor to the decreased resistivity of Cu(Ag) alloy thin films at the temperature of $300^{\circ}C{\sim}500^{\circ}C$, and decreases the resistivity of Cu(Ag) thin films to $1.96{\mu}{\Omega}-cm$ after annealing at $600^{\circ}C$. Furthermore, the addition of Ag increases the stress relaxation temperature of Cu(Ag) thin films, and thus leading to the enhanced resistance to the void formation, which starts at $300^{\circ}C$ in the pure Cu thin films. Moreover, Cu(Ag) thin films shows the increased adhesion properties, possibly resulting from the Ag segregating to the interface. Consequently, the Cu(Ag) thin films can be used as a metallization of advanced TFT-LCDs.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.65-71
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• 2017

To prepare the Cu-based filler material indicating enhanced oxidation resistance property and Ag content, Ag-coated Cu particles was fabricated by Ag plating of 40 wt % on the spherical Cu particles with an average size of $2{\mu}m$ and their oxidation behavior was also evaluated. In the case that ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid was used alone, the fabricated particles frequently showed broken structures such as delamination at Ag shell/core Cu interface and hollow structure that are induced by excessive galvanic displacement reaction. As a result, fraction of defect particles increased up to 19.88% after the Ag plating of 40 wt.%. However, the fraction in the 40 wt.% Ag-coated Cu particles decreased to 9.01% and relatively smooth surface and dense microstructure in the Ag shell were also observed with additional usage of hydroquinone as a complexing agent. Ag-coated Cu particles having the enhanced microstructure did not show any weight increase by oxidation for exposure to air at $160^{\circ}C$ for 2 h, indicating increased oxidation resistance property.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.639-644
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• 1996

The $YBa_2Cu_{3-y}Ag_yO_{7-x}$ high-temperature superconductors were prepared by pyrophoric synthetic method from $Y_2O_3$, $BaCO_3$, CuO, and $AgNO_3$ powders. When we were partially substituted Ag for Cu in $YBa_3Cu_3O_{7-x}$, the superconducting properties of $YBa_2Cu_{3-y}Ag_yO_{7-x}$ were investigated with X-ray diffractometer, resisitivity measuring equipment, SEM, and Vickers Hardness. The Tc,zero of $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-x}$ was 91K, the density was $5.2g/cm^3$, and the hardness was $590kg/mm^2$. When Ag was substituted below y=0.15, electrical property of $YBa_2Cu_{3-y}Ag_yO_{7-x}$ did not change but microstructure, density, and hardness were enhanced.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.23-43
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• 1992

Corrosion characteristics of four commerial gold-based dental alloys(C-1; Au75%, Ag13.9%, Pd3%, Cu & etc.,8.1%, C-2 ;Au 52.08, Ag 24%, Pd 5%, Cu & etc.,18.92, C-3 ; Au 53%, Ag 22%, Pd 5%, Pt 3% Cu & etc.,17%, C-4 ; Au 53%, Pd4, Pt1.5%, Ag & Cu & etc.,41.5%) and four experimental ternary Au-Ag-Cu alloys(E-1 ; Au 50%, Ag 30%, Cu 20%, E-2 ; Au 50%, Ag 20%, Cu 30%, E-3 ; Au 50%, Ag 10%, Cu 40%, E-4 ; Au 50%, Ag 40%, Cu 10%) were investigated by potentiodynamic polarization analysis and the structure was examined by optical microscope and SEM. All corrosion testing was conducted in 1% NaCl solution. The main results are as follows : 1. The corrosion resistence of commercial alloys was decreased in the order of C-1, C-3, C-4, C-2. C-2. 2. The E-1 and E-3 ternary alloys exhibits the higher corrosion resistence than E-2 and E-4 alloys. 3. The cast microstructure of alloys reveals dendrite morphology which shows the significant microsegregation caused by the difference in the diffusion rate between liquid and solid. 4. It is found that the surface corrosion products were mainly AgCl by X-ray diffraction results.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.503-508
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of $V_2$$O_{5}$ addition on the Ag and Cu precipitation in the NiCuZn ferrite layers of 7.7${\times}$4.5${\times}$1.0 mm sized multi-layer chip inductors prepared by the screen printing method using 0∼0.5 wt% $V_2$$O_{5}$ -doped ferrite pastes. With increasing the $V_2$$O_{5}$ content and sintering temperature, Ag and Cu oxide coprecipitated more and more at the polished surface of ferrite layers during re-annealing at $840^{\circ}C$. It was thought that during the sintering process, V dissolved in the NiCuZn ferrite lattice and the Ag-Cu liquid phase of low melting point was formed in the ferrite layers due to the Cu segregation from the ferrite lattice and Ag diffusion from the internal electrode. During re-annealing at $840^{\circ}C$, the Ag-Cu liquid phase came out the polished surface of ferrite layers, and was decomposed into the isolated Ag particles and the Cu oxide phase during the cooling process.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.59-59
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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℃ 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℃. Wettability of Sn-3.5Ag-0.7Cu on Cu, Cu/Sn (5㎛), Cu/Ni (5㎛), and Cu/Ni/Au (5㎛/500Å) 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 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.