Effect of Ce on solderability of Sn-Cu-Ni solder

Abstract A small amount of rare earth Ce was added to Sn-Cu-Ni solder alloy, and the solderability of Sn-0. 5Cu-0. 05Ni- xCe solders on Cu and Au/Ni/Cu substrates was determined by the wetting balance method. The effects of atmosphere, temperature, substrate, and Ce addition on the solderability of Sn-Cu-Ni-xCe solder were studied, respectively, and Auger electron spectroscopy （ AES） analysis in the depth direction of the alloy was carried out to discuss the effect of Ce addition on the solderability. The results indicate that the greatest improvement on the solderability of Sn-Cu-Ni-xCe is obtai^d with around O. 05wt. % -0. 07wt. % Ce addition, for Ce element keeps high content in a specific area in the depth direction from the surface of Sn-Cu-Ni alloy, which decreases the surface tension of molten solder. It is also found that the solderability of Sn-Cu-Ni-xCe solder on Au/Ni/ Cu substrate is better than that on Cu substrate. In N2 atmosphere, the wetting times of Sn- Ca-Ni-xCe alloys are reduced by 10% - 35% , below 1 s at 260 ℃ on Ca substrate, and about 1s at 250 ℃ on Au/Ni/Ca substrate.

Effect of Ag and Ni on the melting point and solderability of SnSbCu solder alloys

To improve the properties of Sn10Sb8Cu solder alloy, two new solders （SnSbCuAg and SnSbCuNi） were formed by adding small amounts of Ag or Ni into the solder alloy. The results show that the melting point of the SnSbCuAg solder alloy decreases by 14.1℃ and the spreading area increases by 16.5% compared to the matrix solder. The melting point of the SnSbCuNi solder alloy decreases by 5.4℃ and the spreading area is slightly less than that of the matrix solder. Microstructure analysis shows that adding trace Ag makes the melting point decline due to the dispersed distribution of SnAg phase with low melting point. Adding trace Ni, Cu6Sn5 and （Cu, Ni）6Sn5 with polyhedron shape on the copper substrate can be easily seen in the SnSbCuNi solder alloy, which makes the viscosity of the melting solder increase and the spreading property of the solder decline.

Solderability of Electrodeposited Fe-Ni Alloys with Eutectic SnAgCu Solder

Solderabilities of electrodeposited Fe-Ni alloys with SnAgCu solder were examined by wetting balance measurements and compared to those of pure Ni and pure Fe platings. Excellent solderability was found on the Ni-52Fe plating as both the wetting force and kinetics approached or exceeded those on the pure Ni. However, upon further increase in Fe content to 75 at. pct, the solderability of the alloy was severely degraded even though it was still better than that of the pure Fe plating. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that such a strong dependence of solderability on Fe content is related to the much thinner, incomplete oxide coverage of Ni-rich plating surface.

Solderability and intermetallic compounds formation of Sn-9Zn-xAg lead-free solders wetted on Cu substrate

The eutectic Sn-9Zn alloy was doped with Ag （0 wt.%-1 wt.%） to form Sn-9Zn-xAg lead-free solder alloys. The effect of the addition of Ag on the microstructure and solderability of this alloy was investigated and intermetallic compounds （IMCs） formed at the solder/Cu interface were also examined in this study. The results show that, due to the addition of Ag, the microstructure of the solder changes. When the quantity of Ag is lower than 0.3 wt.%, the needle-like Zn-rich phase decreases gradually. However, when the quantity of Ag is 0.5 wt.%-1 wt.%, Ag-Zn intermetallic compounds appear in the solder. In particular, adding 0.3 wt.% Ag improves the wetting behavior due to the better oxidation resistance of the Sn-9Zn solder. The addition of an excessive amount of Ag will deteriorate the wetting property because the gluti- nosity and fluidity of Sn-9Zn-（0.5, 1）Ag solder decrease. The results also indicate that the addition of Ag to the Sn-Zn solder leads to the precipitation of ε-AgZn3 from the liquid solder on preformed interracial intermetallics （CusZn8）. The peripheral AgZn3, nodular on the Cu5Zn8 IMCs layer, is likely to be generated by a peritectic reaction L ＋ γ-Ag5Zns→AgZn3 and the following crystallization of AgZn3.

A comprehensive review of radiation effects on solder alloys and solder joints

In the realm of military and defence applications, exposure to radiation significantly challenges the performance and reliability of solder alloys and joints in electronic systems. This comprehensive review examines radiation-induced effects on solder alloys and solder joints in terms of microstructure and mechanical properties. In this paper, we evaluate the existing literature, including experimental studies and fundamental theory, to provide a comprehensive overview of the behavior of solder materials under radiation. A review of the literature highlights key mechanisms that contribute to radiation-induced changes in the microstructure, such as the formation of intermetallic compounds, grain growth,micro-voids and micro-cracks. Radiation is explored as a factor influencing solder alloy hardness,strength, fatigue and ductility. Moreover, the review addresses the challenges and limitations inherent in studying the effects of radiation on solder materials and offers recommendations for future research. It is crucial to understand radiation-induced effects on solder performance to design robust and radiationresistant electronic systems. A review of radiation effects on solder materials and their applications in electronics serves as a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and practitioners in that field.

A review of extreme condition effects on solder joint reliability:Understanding failure mechanisms

Solder joint,crucial component in electronic systems,face significant challenges when exposed to extreme conditions during applications.The solder joint reliability involving microstructure and mechanical properties will be affected by extreme conditions.Understanding the behaviour of solder joints under extreme conditions is vital to determine the durability and reliability of solder joint.This review paper aims to comprehensively explore the underlying failure mechanism affecting solder joint reliability under extreme conditions.This study covers an in-depth analysis of effect extreme temperature,mechanical stress,and radiation conditions towards solder joint.Impact of each condition to the microstructure including solder matrix and intermetallic compound layer,and mechanical properties such as fatigue,shear strength,creep,and hardness was thoroughly discussed.The failure mechanisms were illustrated in graphical diagrams to ensure clarity and understanding.Furthermore,the paper highlighted mitigation strategies that enhancing solder joint reliability under challenging operating conditions.The findings offer valuable guidance for researchers,engineers,and practitioners involved in electronics,engineering,and related fields,fostering advancements in solder joint reliability and performance.

Effect of Mo and ZrO_(2)nanoparticles addition on interfacial properties and shear strength of Sn58Bi/Cu solder joint

The influence of Mo and ZrO_(2)nanoparticles addition on the interfacial properties and shear strength of Sn58Bi solder joint was investigated.The interfacial microstructures of Sn58Bi/Cu,Sn58Bi+Mo/Cu and Sn58Bi+ZrO_(2)/Cu solder joints were analysed using a scanning electron microscope(SEM)coupled with energy dispersive X-ray(EDX)and the X-ray diffraction(XRD).Intermetallic compounds(IMCs)of MoSn_(2)are detected in the Sn58Bi+Mo/Cu solder joint,while SnZr,Zr_(5)Sn_(3),ZrCu and ZrSn_(2)are detected in Sn58Bi+ZrO_(2)/Cu solder joint.IMC layers for both composite solders comprise of Cu_(6)Sn_(5) and Cu_(3)Sn.The SEM images of these layers were used to measure the IMC layer’s thickness.The average IMC layer’s thickness is 1.4431μm for Sn58Bi+Mo/Cu and 0.9112μm for Sn58Bi+ZrO_(2)/Cu solder joints.Shear strength of the solder joints was investigated via the single shear lap test method.The average maximum load and shear stress of the Sn58Bi+Mo/Cu and Sn58Bi+ZrO_(2)/Cu solder joints are increased by 33%and 69%,respectively,as compared to those of the Sn58Bi/Cu solder joint.By comparing both composite solder joints,the latter prevails better as adding smaller sized ZrO_(2)nanoparticles improves the interfacial properties granting a stronger solder joint.

Preventing formation of intermetallic compounds in ultrasonic-assisted Sn soldering of Mg/Al alloys through pre-plating a Ni coating layer on the Mg substrate

Magnesium and aluminum alloys are widely used in various industries because of their excellent properties,and their reliable connection may increase application of materials.Intermetallic compounds(IMCs)affect the joint performance of Mg/Al.In this study,AZ31 Mg alloy with/without a nickel(Ni)coating layer and 6061 Al alloy were joined by ultrasonic-assisted soldering with Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu(SAC)filler.The effects of the Ni coating layer on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg/Al joints were systematically investigated.The Ni coating layer had a significant effect on formation of the Mg_(2)Sn IMC and the mechanical properties of Mg/Al joints.The blocky Mg_(2)Sn IMC formed in the Mg/SAC/Al joints without a Ni coating layer.The content of the Mg_(2)Sn IMC increased with increasing soldering temperature,but the joint strength decreased.The joint without a Ni coating layer fractured at the blocky Mg_(2)Sn IMC in the solder,and the maximum shear strength was 32.2 MPa.By pre-plating Ni on the Mg substrate,formation of the blocky Mg_(2)Sn IMC was inhibited in the soldering temperature range 240–280℃and the joint strength increased.However,when the soldering temperature increased to 310℃,the blocky Mg_(2)Sn IMC precipitated again in the solder.Transmission electron microscopy showed that some nano-sized Mg_(2)Sn IMC and the(Cu,Ni)_(6)Sn_(5)phase formed in the Mg(Ni)/SAC/Al joint soldered at 280℃,indicating that the Ni coating layer could no longer prevent diffusion of Mg into the solder when the soldering temperature was higher than 280℃.The maximum shear strength of the Mg(Ni)/SAC/Al joint was 58.2 MPa for a soldering temperature of 280℃,which was 80.7%higher than that of the Mg/SAC/Al joint,and the joint was broken at the Mg(Ni)/SAC interface.Pre-plating Ni is a feasible way to inhibit formation of IMCs when joining dissimilar metals.

Preparation and Characterization of ZnO-CuO-Bi_(2)O_(3)-B_(2)O_(3)-SiO_(2)System Low Melting Sealing Glasses

Lead-free low melting glasses,ZnO-CuO-Bi_(2)O_(3)-B_(2)O_(3)-SiO_(2)system,with fixed contents of 15 mol%CuO and 20 mol%Bi_(2)O_(3),were prepared by using melt cooling method.Structure and thermal properties of the glasses were studied by using X-ray diffractometer(XRD),infrared spectrometer(FIT-IR),thermal dilatometer and differential thermal analyzer(DTA).Chemical durability of the glasses was studied by using dissolution rate method.Wettability of glasses on substrate was tested by using button sintering experiment.It is found that alkaline resistance of the glass solders is lower than that of plate glass and the water resistance is comparable with that of plate glass.The sealing temperatures are Ts=445-490℃,while the average thermal expansion coefficient from room temperature to 300℃is in the range of(65-82)×10^(−7)℃^(−1).At sealing temperature,the glass solders have good wettability on plate glass or alumina substrate.They are not crystallized even sintered at the sealing temperature for 30 min.The solder glasses are suitable for sealing plate glass,alumina and other inorganic non-metallic materials.

Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Some Sn-Zn Based Lead-Free Quinary Alloys

Although there are many lead-free soldering alloys on the market, none of them have ideal qualities. The researchers are combining binary alloys with a variety of additional materials to create the soldering alloys’ features. The eutectic Sn-9Zn alloy is among them. This paper investigated the mechanical and electrical properties of Sn-9Zn-x (Ag, Cu, Sb);{x = 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6} lead-free solder alloys. The mechanical properties such as elastic modulus, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS), and ductility were examined at the strain rates in a range from 4.17 10−3 s−1 to 208.5 10−3 s−1 at room temperature. It is found that increasing the content of the alloying elements and strain rate increases the elastic modulus, ultimate tensile strength, and yield strength while the ductility decreases. The electrical conductivity of the alloys is found to be a little smaller than that of the Sn-9Zn eutectic alloy.

Al 1060/Pure Iron Clad Materials by Vacuum Roll Bonding and Their Solderability

Al 1060/pure iron clad materials were produced by vacuum roll bonding. The effects of preheating temperature, vacuum roll reduction and initial thickness of the A11060 sheet on the metal interface and bonding strength were investigated. The interfacial microstructure was investigated and the mechanical properties of the joint were evaluated by shear testing. The bonding strength of the clad materials was generally enhanced by increasing the total reduction or preheating temperature, which caused the metal interface to flatten. No obvious reaction or diffusion layer was observed at the interface between Al 1060 and pure iron. The bonding strength increased with decreasing the initial thickness of the Al 1060 sheets. The Al 1060/pure iron clad materials were soldered with Zn-Al alloy by using an ultrasonic-assisted method. Strong bonding of the Al 1060 layer and Al 7N01 was realized without obvious Al 1060 dissolution or effect on the initial interface of Al 1060/pure iron clad materials by soldering at relatively low temperature.

Research Progress on the Solder Joint Reliability of Electronics Using in Deep Space Exploration

The spacecraft for deep space exploration missions will face extreme environments,including cryogenic temperature,intense radiation,wide-range temperature variations and even the combination of conditions mentioned above.Harsh environments will lead to solder joints degradation or even failure,resulting in damage to onboard electronics.The research activities on high reliability solder joints using in extreme environments can not only reduce the use of onboard protection devices,but effectively improve the overall reliability of spacecraft,which is of great significance to the aviation industry.In this paper,we review the reliability research on SnPb solder alloys,Sn-based lead-free solder alloys and In-based solder alloys in extreme environments,and try to provide some suggestions for the follow-up studies,which focus on solder joint reliability under extreme environments.

A review of soldering by localized heating

In recent years,the rapid development of the new energy industry has driven continuous upgrading of high-density and high-power devices.In the packaging and assembly process,the problem of differentiation of the thermal needs of different modules has become increasingly prominent,especially for small-size solder joints with high heat dissipation in high-power devices.Localized soldering is con-sidered a suitable choice to selectively heat the desired target while not affecting other heat-sensitive chips.This paper reviews several local-ized soldering processes,focusing on the size of solder joints,soldering materials,and current state of the technique.Each localized solder-ing process was discovered to have unique characteristics.The requirements for small-size solder joints are met by laser soldering,microres-istance soldering,and self-propagating soldering;however,laser soldering has difficulty meeting the requirements for large heat dissipation,microresistance soldering requires the application of pressure to joints,and self-propagating soldering requires ignition materials.However,for small-size solder junctions,selective wave soldering,microwave soldering,and ultrasonic soldering are not appropriate.Because the magnetic field can be focused on a tiny area and the output energy of induction heating is large,induction soldering can be employed as a significant trend in future research.

Interfacial reaction behavior and mechanical properties of 5A06 Al alloy soldered with Sn-1Ti-xGa solders at a low temperature

Active soldering of 5A06 Al alloy was performed at 300 ℃ by using Sn-1Ti and Sn-1Ti-0.3Ga active solders, respectively. Theeffects of soldering time on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the joints were investigated. The results showed that the Sn-1Tisolder broke the oxide film on the surface of the Al substrate and induced intergranular diffusion in the Al substrate. When Ga was added tothe solder, severe dissolution pits appeared in the Al substrate due to the action of Sn-1Ti-0.3Ga solder, and many Al particles were flakedfrom the matrix into the solder seam. Under thermal stress and the Ti adsorption effect, the oxide film cracked. With increasing solderingtime, the shear strength of 5A06 Al alloy joints soldered with Sn-1Ti and Sn-1Ti-0.3Ga active solders increased. When soldered for 90 min,the joint soldered with Sn-1Ti-0.3Ga solder had a higher shear strength of 22.12 MPa when compared to Sn-1Ti solder.

Fluxless bonding with silver nanowires aerogel in die-attached interconnection

The electronic product has gravitated towards component miniaturization and integration, employment of lead-free materials, and low-temperature soldering processes. Noble-metal aerogels have drawn increasing attention for high conduction and low density. However,the noble metal aerogels with outstanding solderability were rarely studied. This work has successfully synthesized an aerogel derived from silver nanowires(AgNWs) using a liquid phase reduction method. It is found that the noble metal aerogels can be made into diverse aerogel preformed soldering sheets. The influence of bonding temperature(150-300 ℃), time(2-20 min), and pressure(5-20 MPa) on the joint strength of the AgNWs aerogel affixed to electroless nickel/silver copper plates were investigated. Additionally, the AgNWs aerogel displays almost the same shear strength for substrates of various sizes. In a word, this study presents a flux-free, high-strength, and adaptable soldering structural material.

Effect of Strain Rate on Tensile Behavior of Sn-9Zn-xAg-ySb;{(x, y) = (0.2, 0.6), (0.2, 0.8), (0.6, 0.2), (0.8, 0.2)} Lead-Free Solder Alloys

The tensile properties of Sn-9Zn-xAg-ySb;{(x, y) = (0.2, 0.6), (0.2, 0.8), (0.6, 0.2), (0.8, 0.2)} lead-free solders were investigated. All the test samples were annealed at 150°C for 1 hour. The tests are carried out at room temperature at the strain rate of 4.17 × 10-3 s-1, 20.85 × 10-3 s-1, and 208.5 × 10-3 s-1. It is seen that the tensile strength increases and the ductility decrease with increasing the strain rate over the investigated range. From the strain rate change test results, the strain sensitivity values are found in the range of 0.0831 to 0.1455 due to the addition of different alloying elements.

Effect of Sb content on properties of Sn-Bi solders

The effect of Sb content on the properties of Sn-Bi solders was studied. The nonequilibrium melting behaviors of a series of Sn-Bi-Sb solders were examined by differential scanning calorimetry （DSC）. The spreading test was carried out to characterize the wettability of Sn-Bi-Sb solders on Cu substrate. The mechanical properties of the solders/Cu joints were evaluated. The results show that the ternary alloy solders contain eutectic structure resulting from quasi-peritetic reaction. With the increase of Sb content, the amount of the eutectic structure increases. At a heating rate of 5 ℃/min, Sn-Bi-Sb alloys exhibit a higher melting point and a wider melting range. A small amount of Sb has an impact on the wettability of Sn-Bi solders. The reaction layers form during spreading process. Sb is detected in the reaction layer while Bi is not detected. The total thickness of reaction layer between solder and Cu increases with the increase of the Sb content. The shear strength of the Sn-Bi-Sb solders increases as the Sb content increases.

EFFECTS OF RARE EARTH ELEMENT LANTHANUM ON MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF Ag-Cu-Ti SOLDER ALLOY

The effects of rare earth Lanthanum on the microstructure, the physical property and the microhardness of Ag-Cu-Ti solder alloy are studied. Experimental results indicate that the addition of Lanthanum can evidently improve the wettability and the microhardness of Ag-Cu-Ti solder alloy. Analysis results show that the increase in microhardness is related to the refining and uniform distribution of the intermetallic compounds. Proper content of Lanthanum added in Ag-Cu-Ti alloy solder can be controlled below 0.5% in mass percent.

Drop failure modes of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder joints in wafer level chip scale package

To reveal the drop failure modes of the wafer level chip scale packages （WLCSPs） with Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder joints, board level drop tests were performed according to the JEDEC standard. Six failure modes were identified, i.e., short FR-4 cracks and complete FR-4 cracks at the printing circuit board （PCB） side, split between redistribution layer （RDL） and Cu under bump metallization （UBM）, RDL fracture, bulk cracks and partial bulk and intermetallic compound （IMC） cracks at the chip side. For the outmost solder joints, complete FR-4 cracks tended to occur, due to large deformation of PCB and low strength of FR-4 dielectric layer. The formation of complete FR-4 cracks largely absorbed the impact energy, resulting in the absence of other failure modes. For the inner solder joints, the absorption of impact energy by the short FR-4 cracks was limited, resulting in other failure modes at the chip side.

Interfacial characteristics and microstructural evolution of Sn-6.5Zn solder/Cu substrate joints during aging

The influence of isothermal aging at 150 °C on the microstructural characteristics and microhardness of the Sn-6.5Zn solder/Cu joint was studied. The mechanisms for the formation and evolution of intermetallic compound （IMC） at the interface of the Sn-6.5Zn/Cu joint were also analyzed. The results indicate that a continuous layer consisting of CuZn and Cu5Zn8 IMCs is formed in the interface zone. As the aging time prolongs, the thickness of the IMC layer first increases and then decreases, and the continuous and compactable layer is destroyed due to the decomposition of the Cu-Zn IMC layer. A discontinuous layer of Cu6Sn5 IMC is present within the Cu substrate near the decomposed region. The interface becomes rough and evident voids form after aging. The microhardness of the interface increases owing to the application of aging.