• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2004.09a
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• pp.93-99
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• 2004

At present, LG Electronics pushes ahead to eliminate the Pb(Lead) -a hazardous material- from all products. Especially, we have performed to select the optimum standard composition of lead free alloy for the application to products for about 3 years from 2000. These days, we have the chance for applying to the mass-production. This project constructed the system for applying the lead free solders on consumer electronic products, which is one of the major products of the LG Electronics. To select the lead free solders with corresponding to the product features, we have passed through the test and applied with Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu alloy system to our products, and for the application to the high melting temperature composition, we secured the thermal resistance of the many parts and substrate and optimized the processing conditions. We have operated the temperature cycling test and the high temperature storage test under the standards to confirm the reliability of the products. On these samples, we considered the consequence of our decision by the operating test. For the long life time of the product, we have operated the temperature cycling test at $-45^{\circ}C-+125^{\circ}C$, 1 cycle/hour, 1000 cycles. Also we have tested the tin whisker growth about lead free plating on lead finish. We have analyzed with the SEM, EDS and any other equipment for confirming the failure mode at the joint and the tin whisker growth on lead free finish.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.61-67
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• 2005

Since lead (Pb)-free solders for electronics have higher melting points than that of eutectic Sn-Pb solder, they need higher soldering temperatures. In order to decrease the soldering temperature we tried to coat Sn-Bi layer on $Sn-3.5\%Ag$ solder by electroplating, which applies the mechanism of transient liquid phase bonding to soldering. During heating Bi will diffuse into the $Sn-3.5\%Ag$ solder and this results in decreasing soldering temperature. As bonding samples, the 1608 capacitor electroplated with Sn, and PCB, its surface was finished with electroless-plated Ni/Au, were selected. The $Sn-95.7\%Bi$ coated Sn-3.5Ag was supplied as a solder between the capacitor and PCB land. The samples were reflowed at $220^{\circ}C$, which was lower than that of normal reflow temperature, $240\~250^{\circ}C$, for the Pb-free. As experimental result, the joint of $Sn-95.7\%Bi$ coated Sn-3.5Ag showed high shear strength. In the as-reflowed state, the shear strength of the coated solder showed 58.8N, whereas those of commercial ones were 37.2N (Sn-37Pb), 31.4N (Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu), and 40.2N (Sn-8Zn-3Bi). After thermal shock of 1000 cycles between $-40^{\circ}C$ and $+125^{\circ}C$, shear strength of the coated solder showed 56.8N, whereas the previous commercial solders were in the range of 32.3N and 45.1N. As the microstructures, in the solder $Ag_3Sn$ intermetallic compound (IMC), and along the bonded interface $Ni_3Sn_4$ IMC were observed.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.37-42
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• 2001

The concerns of the toxicity and health hazard of lead in solders have demanded the research to find suitable lead-free solder alloys. It was discussed that effect of the intermetallic formation and structure on the reliability of solder joints. In this study, lead-free solder alloys with compositions of Sn/3.5Ag/0.75Cu, Sn/2.0Ag/0.5Cu/2.0Bi were applied to the 48 $\mu$BGA packages. Also, the lead-free solder alloys compared with eutectic Sn/37Pb solder using shear test under various aging temperature. Common $\mu$BGA with solder components was aged at $130^{\circ}C$, $150^{\circ}C$ and $170^{\circ}C$. And the each temperature applied to 300, 600 and 900 hours. The thickness of the intermetallics was measured for each condition and the activation energy for their growth was computed. The fracture surfaces were analyzed using SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) with EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy). These results for reliability of lead-free interconnections are discussed.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.12 no.2 s.35
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• pp.121-128
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• 2005

Solder joints in microelectronic devices are frequently operated at an elevated temperature in service. They also experience plastic deformation caused by temperature excursion and difference in thermal expansion coefficients. Deformed solders can go through a recovery and recrystallization process at an elevated temperature, which would alter their microstructure and mechanical properties. In this study, to predict the changes in mechanical properties of Pb-free solder joints at high temperatures, the high temperature microhardness of several Pb-free and composite solders was measured as a function of temperature, deformation, and annealing condition. Solder alleys investigated include pure Sn, Sn-0.7Cu, Sn-3.5Ag, Sn-3.8Ag-0.7Cu, Sn-2.8Ag-7.0Cu (composite), and Sn-2.7Ag-4.9Cu-2.9Ni (composite). Numbers are all in wt.$\%$ unless specified otherwise. Solder pellets were cast at two cooling rates (0.4 and $7^{\circ}C$/s). The pellets were compressively deformed by $30\%$ and $50\%$ and annealed at $150^{\circ}C$ for 2 days. The microhardness was measured as a function of indentation temperature from 25 to $130^{\circ}C$. Their microstructure was also evaluated to correlate with the changes in microhardness.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.43-48
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• 2008

Characteristics of Sn-1.7%Bi-0.7%Cu-0.6%In (hereafter, SBIC) lead-free solder was investigated in this study. The results from SBIC were compared to other lead-free solders such as Sn-3.5%Ag-0.7%Cu (hereafter, SAC), Sn-0.7%Cu (hereafter, SC), and lead-bearing Sn-37%Pb (hereafter, SP) alloy. Tensile properties of bulk solder, wettability, spreading index, bridge and dross were evaluated. As experimental results, tensile strength and elongation of SBIC was 62.5MPa and 21.5%, respectively. The tensile strength was comparable to that of SP solder. The wetting time of SBIC was 1.2 sec at $250^{\circ}C$, and its wetting properties including wetting force were as good as the SAC alloy. However, wettability of the SC was not so good as the SBIC and SAC. The spreading index of SBIC at $250^{\circ}C$ was 71 %, and it was similar level to those of SAC and SC solders. Bridging was not found for all solders of SBIC, SAC and SC in the range from 240 to $260^{\circ}C$. In dross test at $250^{\circ}C$ for an hour, the amount of dross produced from SBIC was about 57% compared to that from SAC.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.74-80
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• 2014

Due to environmental regulations (RoHS, WEEE and ELV) of the European Union, electronics and automotive electronics have to eliminate toxic substance from their devices and system. Especially, reliability issue of lead-free solder joint is increasing in car electronics due to ELV (End-of-Life Vehicle) banning from 2016. We have prepared engine control unit (ECU) modules soldered with Sn-40Pb and Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC305) solders, respectively. Degradation characteristics of solder joint strength were compared with various conditions of automobile environment such as cabin and engine room. Thermal cycle test (TC, $-40^{\circ}C$ ~ ($85^{\circ}C$ and $125^{\circ}C$), 1500 cycles) were conducted with automotive company standard. To compare shear strength degradation rate with eutectic and Pb-free solder alloy, we measured shear strength of chip components and its size from cabin and engine ECU modules. Based on the TC test results, finally, we have known the difference of degradation level with solder alloys and use environmental conditions. Solder joints degradation rate of engine room ECU is superior to cabin ECU due to large CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) mismatch in field condition. Degradation rate of engine room ECU is 50~60% larger than cabin room electronics.

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2004.09a
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• pp.233-241
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• 2004

A new alloy definition will be presented concerning increasing demands for the board level reliability of miniaturized interconnections. The damage mechanism for LFBGA components on different board finishes is not quite understood. Further demands from mobile phones are the drop test, characterizing interface performance of different package constructions in relation to decreased pad constructions and therefore interfaces. The paper discusses the characterization of interfaces based on SnPb, SnPbXYZ, SnAgCu and SnAgCuInNd ball materials and SnAgCuInNd as solder paste, the stability after accelerated tests and the description of modified interfaces strictly related to the assembly conditions, dissolution behavior of finishes on board side and the influence of intermetallic formation. The type of intermetallic as well as the quantity of intermetallics are observed, primaliry the hardness, E modules describing the ability of strain/stress compensation. First results of board level reliability are presented after TCT-40/+150. Improvement steps from the ball formulation will be discussed in conjunction to the implementation of lead free materials In order to optimize ball materials for area array devices accelareted aging conditions like TCTs were used to analyze the board level reliability of different ball materials for BGA, LFBGA, CSP, Flip Chip. The paper outlines lead-free ball analysis in comparison to conventional solder balls for BGA and chip size packages. The important points of interest are the description of processability related to existing ball attach procedures, requirements of interconnection properties and the knowledge gained the board level reliability. Both are the primary acceptance criteria for implementation. Knowledge about melting characteristic, surface tension depend on temperature and organic vehicles, wetting behavior, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, specific heat, mechanical strength, creep and relaxation properties, interactions to preferred finishes (minor impurities), intermetallic growth, content of IMC, brittleness depend on solved elements/IMC, fatigue resistance, damage mechanism, affinity against oxygen, reduction potential, decontamination efforts, endo-/exothermic reactions, diffusion properties related to finishes or bare materials, isothermal fatigue, thermo-cyclic fatigue, corrosion properties, lifetime prediction based on board level results, compatibility with rework/repair solders, rework temperatures of modified solders (Impurities, change in the melting point or range), compatibility to components and laminates.

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2004.09a
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• pp.211-219
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• 2004

A new alloy definition will be presented concerning increasing demands for the board level reliability of miniaturized interconnections. The damage mechanism for LFBGA components on different board finishes is not quite understood. Further demands from mobile phones are the drop test, characterizing interface performance of different package constructions in relation to decreased pad constructions and therefore interfaces. The paper discusses the characterization of interfaces based on SnPb, SnPbXYZ, SnAgCu and SnAgCuInNd ball materials and SnAgCuInNd as solder paste, the stability after accelerated tests and the description of modified interfaces stric시y related to the assembly conditions, dissolution behavior of finishes on board side and the influence of intermetallic formation. The type of intermetallic as well as the quantity of intermetallics are observed, primaliry the hardness, E modules describing the ability of strain/stress compensation. First results of board level reliability are presented after TCT-40/+150. Improvement steps from the ball formulation will be discussed in conjunction to the implementation of lead free materials. In order to optimize ball materials for area array devices accelareted aging conditions like TCTs were used to analyze the board level reliability of different ball materials for BGA, LFBGA, CSP, Flip Chip. The paper outlines lead-free ball analysis in comparison to conventional solder balls for BGA and chip size packages. The important points of interest are the description of processability related to existing ball attach procedures, requirements of interconnection properties and the knowledge gained the board level reliability. Both are the primary acceptance criteria for implementation. Knowledge about melting characteristic, surface tension depend on temperature and organic vehicles, wetting behavior, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, specific heat, mechanical strength, creep and relaxation properties, interactions to preferred finishes (minor impurities), intermetallic growth, content of IMC, brittleness depend on solved elements/IMC, fatigue resistance, damage mechanism, affinity against oxygen, reduction potential, decontamination efforts, endo-/exothermic reactions, diffusion properties related to finishes or bare materials, isothermal fatigue, thermo-cyclic fatigue, corrosion properties, lifetime prediction based on board level results, compatibility with rework/repair solders, rework temperatures of modified solders (Impurities, change in the melting point or range), compatibility to components and laminates.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.89-96
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• 2000

As solder becomes small and fine, the reliability and solderability of solder joint are the critical issue in present electronic packaging industry. Besides the use of lead(Pb) containing solders for the interconnections of microelectronic subsystem assembly and packaging has enviromental problem. In this study, using Sn/Pb and Sn/Ag eutectic solder paste, in order to obtain decrease of solder joint strength with increasing aging time, initial solder joint strength and aging strength after 1000 hour aging at $100^{\circ}C$ were measured by peel test. And in order to obtain the growth of intermetallic compound(IMC) layer thickness, IMC layer thickness was measured by scanning electron microscope(SEM). As a result, solder joint strength was decreased with increasing aging time. The mean IMC layer thickness was increased linearly with the square root of aging time. The diffusion coefficient(D) of IMC layer was found to $1.29{\times}10^{-13}{\;}cm^2/s$ at using Sn/Pb solder paste, 7.56{\times}10^{-14}{\textrm}{cm}^2/s$ at using Sn/Ag solder paste.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.402-407
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• 2007

In electronics manufacturing processes, soldering process has generally been used in surface mounting technology. Because of environmental restriction, lead free solders as like a SnAgCu ternary system are being used widely. After soldering process, the formation and growth of intermetalic compounds(IMCs) are formed in the interface between solder and Cu substrate as follows isothermal temperature and time. In this studies, therefore, we investigated the effects of the Cu substrate thickness on the IMC formation and growth of Sn-40Pb/Cu and Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu/Cu solder joints, respectively. The effect of the Cu thickness in PCB Cu pad and pure Cu plate was analyzed as measuring of thickness of each IMC. After solder was soldered on PCB and Cu plate which have different Cu thickness, we measured the IMC thickness in solder joints respectively. Also we compared with the effectiveness of Cu thickness on the IMC growth. From these results, we calculated the activation energy.