• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.51-56
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• 2015

It has been used various pad finish materials to enhance the reliability of solder joint and recently Electroless Ni Electroless Pd Immersion Gold (the following : ENEPIG) pad has been used more than others. This study is about reliability according to being used in commercial Electrolytic Ni pad and ENEPIG pad, and was observed behavior of various Cu contents. After reflow, the inter-metallic compound (IMC) between solder and pad is composed of $Cu_6Sn_5$ (Ni substituted) by using EDS, and in case of ENEPIG, between IMC and Ni layer was observed the dark layer ($Ni_3P$ layer). Additional, it could be controlled the thickness of dark layer according to Cu contents. Investigated the different fracture mode between electrolytic Ni and ENEPIG pad after drop shock test, in case of soft Ni, accelerated stress propagated along the interface between $1^{st}$ IMC and $2^{nd}$ IMC, and in case of ENEPIG pad, accelerated stress propagated along the weaken surface such as dark layer. The unstable interface exists through IMC, pad material and solder bulk by the lattice mismatch, so that the thermal and physical stress due to the continuous exterior impact is transferred to the IMC interface. Therefore, it is strongly requested to control solder morphology, IMC shape and thickness to improve the solder reliability.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2000.07a
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• pp.640-644
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• 2000

The microstructure, wettability, shear strength and aging effect of Sn-3.5Ag/Cu and Alloy42 lead-frame solder joints were measured for comparison. In the case of Sn-3.5Ag/Cu, Ag$_3$Sn and Cu$\sub$6/Sn$\sub$5/ phases in the matrix Sn and 1∼2$\mu\textrm{m}$ thick Cu$\sub$6/Sn$\sub$5/ Phase at the interface of solder/lead-frame were formed. In the case of Sn-3.5AAg/A11oy42, only Ag$_3$Sn Phase of low density in the matrix Sn and 0.5∼1.5$\mu\textrm{m}$ thick FeSn$_2$phase at the interface of solder/lead-frame were formed. Comparing to Cu, Alloy42 shear strength of Alloy 42 solder joints was smaller than that of Cu and all declined after aging. After aging at 180$^{\circ}C$ for 1 week, η-Cu$\sub$6/Sn$\sub$5/ layer was formed on Cu lead-frame, while AgSn$_3$ phase in the matrix and thickened FeSn$_2$at the interface were formed on Alloy42 lead-frame.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2004

The requirements for harsh environment electronic controllers in automotive applications have been steadily becoming more and more stringent. Electronic substrate technologists have been responding to this challenge effectively in an effort to meet the performance, reliability and cost requirements. An effect of the plasma cleaning at the ECM(Engine Control Module) alumina substrate and the intermetallic compound layer between Sn-37wt%Pb solder and pad joints after reflow soldering has been studied. Organic residual carbon layer was removed by the substrate plasma cleaning. So the interfacial adhesive strength was enhanced. As a result of AFM measurement, conductor pad roughness were increased from 304 nm to 330 nm. $Cu_6/Sn_5$ formed during initial reflow process at the interface between TiWN/Cu pad and solder grew by the succeeding reflow process, so the grains became coarse. A cellular-shaped $Ag_3Sn$ was observed at the interface between Ag-Pd conductor pad and solder. The diameters of the $Ag_3Sn$ grains ranged from about 0.1∼0.6 $\mu\textrm{m}$. And a needle-shaped was also observed at the inside of the solder.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.750-760
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• 2002

In this study, three solders, Sn-37Pb, Sn-3.5Ag, and Sn-3.8Ag-0.7Cu were screen printed on both electroless Ni/Au and OSP metal finished micro-via PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards). The interfacial reaction between PCB metal pad finish materials and solder materials, and its effects on the solder bump joint mechanical reliability were investigated. The lead free solders formed a large amount of intermetallic compounds (IMC) than Sn-37Pb on both electroless Ni/Au and OSP (Organic Solderabilty Preservatives) finished PCBs during solder reflows because of the higher Sn content and higher reflow temperature. For OSP finish, scallop-like $Cu_{6}$ /$Sn_{5}$ and planar $Cu_3$Sn intermetallic compounds (IMC) were formed, and fracture occurred 100% within the solder regardless of reflow numbers and solder materials. Bump shear strength of lead free solders showed higher value than that of Sn-37Pb solder, because lead free solders are usually harder than eutectic Sn-37Pb solder. For Ni/Au finish, polygonal shaped $Ni_3$$Sn_4$ IMC and P-rich Ni layer were formed, and a brittle fracture at the Ni-Sn IMC layer or the interface between Ni-Sn intermetallic and P-rich Ni layer was observed after several reflows. Therefore, bump shear strength values of the Ni/Au finish are relatively lower than those of OSP finish. Especially, spalled IMCs at Sn-3.5Ag interface was observed after several reflow times. And, for the Sn-3.8Ag-0.7Cu solder case, the ternary Sn-Ni-Cu IMCs were observed. As a result, it was found that OSP finished PCB was a better choice for solders on PCB in terms of flip chip mechanical reliability.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.64-69
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• 2012

Sn-Bi eutectic alloy has been widely used as one of the key solder materials for step soldering at low temperature. The Sn-58Bi solder paste containing chloride flux was adopted to compare with that using the chloride-free flux. The paste was applied on the electroless nickel-immersion gold (ENIG) surface finish by stencil printing, and the reflow process was then performed at $170^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. After reflow, the solder joints were aged at $125^{\circ}C$ for 100, 200, 300, 500 and 1000 h in an oven. The interfacial microstructures were obtained by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the composition of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) was analyzed using energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Two different IMC layers, consisting of $Ni_3Sn_4$ and relatively very thin Sn-Bi-Ni-Au were formed at the solder/surface finish interface, and their thickness increased with increasing aging time. The wettability of solder joints was investigated by wetting balance test. The mechanical property of each aging solder joint was evaluated by the ball shear test in accordance with JEDEC standard (JESD22-B117A). The results show that the highest shear force was measured when the aging time was 100 h, and the fracture mode changed from ductile fracture to brittle fracture with increasing aging time. On the other hand, the chloride flux in the solder paste did not affect the shear force and fracture mode of the solder joints.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.92-97
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• 1998

Because of the low melting temperature of solder, each temperature cycle initiates an irrecoverable creep deformation at the solder interconnection which connects the package body with the PCB. The crack starts and propagates from the position where the creep deformation is maximized. This work has tried to compare and analyze the thermal fatigue life of solder interconnection which is affected by the lead material, the size of die pad, chip thickness, and interface delamination of 48-Pin TSOP under the temperature cycle ($0^{\circ}C$~1$25^{\circ}C$). The crack initiation position and thermal fatigue life which are calculated by using FEA method are well matched with the results of experiments. The thermal Fatigue life of copper lead frame is extended around 3.6 times longer than that of alloy 42 lead frame. It is maximized when the chip size is matched with the length of the lead. It tends to be extended as the thickness of chip got thinner. As the interfacial delamination between die pad and EMC is increased, the thermal fatigue life tends to decrease in the beginning of delamination, and increase after the delamination grew after 45% of the length of die pad.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 2007

Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu lead fee solder was generally utilized in electronics assemblies. But it is insufficient to research about activation energy(Q) that is applying to evaluate the solder joint reliability of environmental friendly electronics assemblies. Therefore this study investigated Q values which are needed to IMC formation and growth of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu/Cu and Sn-40pb/Cu solder joints during aging treatment. We bonded Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu and Sn-40Pb solders on FR-4 PCB with Cu pad$(t=80{\mu}m)$. After reflow soldering, to observe the IMC formation and growth of the solder joints, test specimens were aged at 70, 150 and $170^{\circ}C$ for 1, 2, 5, 20, 60, 240, 960, 15840, 28800 and 43200 min, respectively. SEM and EDS were utilized to analysis the IMCS. From these results, we measured the total IMC$(Cu_6Sn_5+Cu_3Sn)$ thickness of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu/Cu and Sn-40Pb/Cu interface, and then obtained Q values for the IMC$(Cu_6Sn_5,\;Cu_3Sn)$ growth of the solder joints.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.373-378
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• 2003

With increasing environmental concerns, application of lead-free solder and fluxless soldering process have been taken attention from the electronic packaging industry. Plasma treatment is one of the soldering methods for the fluxless soldering, and it can prevent environmental pollution cased by flux. On this study fluxless soldering process under $Ar-H_2$plasma using lead free solders such as Sn-3.5 wt%Ag, Sn-3.5 wt%Ag-0.7 wt%Cu and Sn-37%Pb for a reference was investigated. As the plasma reflow has higher soldering temperature than normal air reflow, the effects of UBM(Under Bump Metallization) thickness on the interfacial reaction and bonding strength can be critical. Experimental results showed in case of the thin UBM, Au(20 nm)/Cu(0.3 $\mu\textrm{m}$)/Ni(0.4 $\mu\textrm{m}$)/Al(0.4 $\mu\textrm{m}$), shear strength of the soldered joint was relatively low as 19-27㎫, and it's caused by the crack observed along the bonded interface. The crack was believed to be produced by the exhaustion of the thin UBM-layer due to the excessive reaction with solder under plasma. However, in case of thick UBM, Au(20 nm)/Cu(4 $\mu\textrm{m}$)/Ni(4 $\mu\textrm{m}$)/Al(0.4 $\mu\textrm{m}$), the bonded interface was sound without any crack and shear strength gives 32∼42㎫. Thus, by increasing UBM thickness in this study the shear strength can be improved to 50∼70%. Fluxed reflow soldering under hot air was also carried out for a reference, and the shear strength was 48∼52㎫. Consequently the fluxless soldering with plasma showed around 65∼80% as those of fluxed air reflow, and the possibility of the $Ar-H_2$ plasma reflow was evaluated.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2007

OSP(organic solderability preservatives) finish has been considered as a very effective process for substituting the metal surface treatment of Ni/Au finish because of lower cost, interface property and environmental issue of OSP finish. However, the discoloration of OSP layer is formed during assembly process consisting of various steps of temperature. The causes of discoloration and the characterization of solder joint were investigated with a degree of discoloration and the assembly process of OSP finished products, which was also compared statistically with that of conventional Ni/Au finished products. As the results, the solution of process trouble for OSP finished products is able to be offered.