• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.9-17
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• 2011

Nano-composite solders have been studied to improve the properties of Pb-free solder joints. The nanoparticles in the composite solders were carbon nanotubes(CNTs), metals (Ag, Ni, Cr, etc.), ceramics (SiC, $ZrO_2$, $TiB_2$, etc.). To fabricate the nano-composite solders, mechanical mixing methods and in-situ fabrication method has been used for well-dispersed nano phase. The characteristic properties of the nano-composite solders were high creep resistance, low undercooling, low IMC growth rate and fine microstructures. More researches on the nano-composite solders are required to improve the processibility and the reliability of the nano-composite solder joints.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2015

This article briefly reviews the results of recently reported research on high-temperature Pb-free solder alloys and the research trend for characterization of the interfacial reaction layer. To improve the product reliability of high-temperature Pb-free solder alloys, thorough research is necessary not only to enhance the alloy properties but also to characterize and understand the interfacial reaction occurring during and after the bonding process. Transmission electron microscopy analysis is expected to play an important role in the development of high-temperature solders by providing accurate and reliable data with a high spatial resolution and facilitating understanding of the interfacial reaction at the solder joint.

• 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.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2012

Environmental and health concerns over the lead have led to investigation of the alternative Pb-free solders to replace commonly used Pb-Sn solders in microelectronic packaging application. The leading candidates for lead-free solder alloys are presently the near eutectic Sn-Ag-Cu alloys. Therefore, extensive studies on reliability related with the composition have been reported. However, the insufficient drop property of the near eutectic Sn-Ag-Cu alloys has demanded solder compositions of low Ag content. In addition, the solder interconnections in automobile applications like a smart box require significantly improved vibration resistance. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of alloying elements (Ag, Bi, In) on the vibration fatigue strength. The vibration fatigue was conducted in 10~1000Hz frequency and 20Grms. The interface of the as-soldered cross section close to the Cu pad indicated the intermetallic compound ($Cu_6Sn_5$) regardless of solder composition. The type and thickness of IMC was not significantly changed after the vibration test. It indicates that no thermal activities occurred significantly during vibration. Furthermore, as a function of alloying composition, the vibration crack path was investigated with a focus on the IMCs. Vibration crack was initiated from the fillet surface of the heel for QFP parts and from the plating layer of chip parts. Regardless of the solder composition, the crack during a vibration test was propagated as same as that during a thermal fatigue test.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.25-30
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• 2018

Sn-Pb solder has been used in automotive electronics for decades. However, recently, due to the environmental and health concerns, some international environmental organizations such as the end-of-life vehicle (ELV) enacted legislation banning of the Pb usage in automotive electronics. For this reason, many studies to develop and promote Pb-free soldering have been significantly reported. Meanwhile, because of flexibility and lightweight, flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs) have been increasingly used in automotive electronics for lightweight to improve fuel efficiency and space utilization. Although the properties of lead-free solders for automotive electronics have been widely studied, there is a lack of research on the reliability performance of the lead-free solder joint on FPCB under user conditions. This study reported the properties of solder joints between Pb-free solders such as Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu, Sn0.7Cu and Sn0.5Cu0.01Al (Si), and various FPCBs finished with organic solderability preservative (OSP) and electroless nickel immersion gold (ENIG). To evaluate on joint properties and reliabilities with different solder compositions and surface-finishing materials, pull strength test, thermal shock test, and bending cycle test were performed and analyzed. After the bending cycle test of solder joint on OSP-finishing, the fractures were occurred in solder and the lifetime of Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu solder joint was the longest.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.505-509
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• 2002

Pb is considered to be eliminated from solder, due to its toxicity. However, melting temperatures of most Pb-free solders are known higher than that of Sn37Pb. Therefore, there is a difficulty to apply Pb-free solders to electronic industry. Since Sn3Ag8Bi5In has relatively lower melting range as $188~200^{\circ}C$, on this study. Wettability and soldering characteristics of Sn3Ag8Bi5In solder in BGA were investigated to solve for what kind of problem. Zero cross time, wetting time, and equilibrium force of Sn3Ag8Bi5In solder for Cu and plated Cu such as Sn, Ni, and Au/Ni-plated on Cu were estimated. Plated Sn on Cu showed best wettability for zero cross time, wetting time and equilibrium farce. Shear strength of the reflowed joint with Sn3Ag8Bi5In ball in BGA was investigated. Diameter of the ball was 0.5mm, UBM(under bump metallurgy) was $Au(0.5\mu\textrm{m})Ni(5\mu\textrm{m})/Cu(18\mu\textrm{m})$ and flux was RMA type. For the reflow soldering, the peak reflow temperature was changed in the range of $220~250^{\circ}C$, and conveyor speed was 0.6m/min.. The shear strength of Sn3Ag8Bi5In ball showed similar level as those of Sn37Pb. The soldered balls are aged at $110^{\circ}C$ for 36days and their shear strengths were evaluated. The shear strength of Sn3Ag8Bi5In ball was increased from 480gf to 580gf by aging for 5 days.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.467-471
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• 2015

Thus far, solders used in electronics remain lead-based. Pb-free solutions in electronic components and systems are receiving increased attention in the semiconductor and electronics industries. Pb-free materials currently in used are Sn-37Pb, Sn-4Ag and Sn-4Ag-0.5Cu/Ni plate joints. In this study, solder alloys were used at high temperatures for artificial aging processing that was performed at $150^{\circ}C$ for 0hr, 100hr, 200hr, 400hr, 600hr and 1000hr. The SP test was conducted at $30^{\circ}C$ and $50^{\circ}C$. As a result, the maximum shear strength of all the specimens decreased with the increase in artificial aging time and temperature of the SP test. In addition, Pb-free solders showed higher total fracture energy compared with Sn-37Pb at high temperatures. The mechanical properties of Sn-4Ag-0.5Cu solder/Ni plate joints remained in excellent conditions in electronic parking systems at high temperatures.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.13-19
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• 2018

The soldering property of Pb-containing solder(Sn-Pb) and Pb-free solders(Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu and Sn-1.0Ag-0.7Cu-1.6Bi-0.2In) for solar combiner box module was compared. The solar combiner box module was composed of voltage and current detecting modules, diode modules, and other modules. In this study, solder paste printability, printing shape inspection, solder joint property, X-ray inspection, and shear force measurements were conducted. For optimization of Pb-free soldering process, step 1 and 2 were divided. In the step 1 process, the printability of Pb-containing and Pb-free solder alloys were estimated by using printing inspector. Then, the relationship between void percentages and shear force has been estimated. Overall, the property of Pb-containing solder was better than two Pb-free solders. In the step 2 process, the property of reflow soldering for the Pb-free solders was evaluated with different reflow peak temperatures. As the peak temperature of the reflow process gradually increased, the void percentage decreased by 2 to 4%, but the shear force did not significantly depend on the reflow peak temperature by a deviation of about 0.5 kgf. Among different surface finishes on PCB, ENIG surface finish was better than OSP and Pb-free solder surface finishes in terms of shear force. In the thermal shock reliability test of the solar combiner box module with a Pb-free solder and OSP surface finish, the change rate of electrical property of the module was almost unchanged within a 0.3% range and the module had a relatively good electrical property after 500 thermal shock cycles.

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.35-35
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• 2004

• 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.