Effect of diode-laser parameters on shear force of micro-joints soldered with Sn-Ag-Cu lead-free solder on Au/Ni/Cu pad

Soldering experiments with Sn-3.5Ag-0.5Cu lead-free solder on Au/Ni/Cu pad were carried out by means of diode-laser and IR reflow soldering methods respectively.The influence of different heating methods as well as output power of diode-laser on shear force of micro-joints was studied and the relationship between the shear force and microstructures of micro-joints was analyzed.The results indicate that the formation of intermetallic compound Ag3Sn is the key factor to affect the shear force and the fine eutectic network structures of micro-joints as well as the dispersion morphology of fine compound Ag3Sn,in which eutectic network band is responsible for the improvement of the shear force of micro-joints soldered with Sn-Ag-Cu lead-free solder.With the increases of output power of diode-laser,the shear force and the microstructures change obviously.The eutectic network structures of micro-joints soldered with diode-laser soldering method are more homogeneous and the grains of Ag3Sn compounds are finer in the range of near optimal output power than those soldered with IR reflow soldering method,so the shear force is also higher than that using IR reflow soldering method.When the output power value of diode-laser is about 41.0 W,the shear force exhibits the highest value that is 70% higher than that using IR reflow soldering method.

Wettability of Sn-Zn-Bi Based Lead-Free Solder with Rare Earths

Effect of different contents of La and Ga on the wettability and the mierostrueture of interface of Sn-8.9Zn- 2.7Bi trinary alloys was studied. The results show that different contents of La and Ga have significant effect on the wettability of Sn-Zn-Bi based lead-free solder under the condition of both atmosphere and nitrogen. By adding suitable amount of Ga, Cu and La to Sn-Zn-Bi solder, a new lead-free solder Sn-8.9Zn-2.7Bi- 1.0Ga-0.5Cu-0.2La with better wettability was prepared, which has a wetting angle of 25.1° to Cu.

Effects of Ag contents in Sn-xAg lead-free solders on microstructure,corrosion behavior and interfacial reaction with Cu substrate

The effects of Ag on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of pre-soldering Sn-xAg lead-free solders,and on the formation of intermetallic layer of the solders with Cu substrate were investigated.The Ag contents(x)were 0,3.0,3.5,4.0,and5.0 wt.%.The Ag content played a role in the morphology of Ag3 Sn phase in the solders.The microstructure analysis showed that theβ-Sn phase was surrounded by eutectic networks in the 3.0 Ag and 3.5 Ag solders and large plate-like Ag3 Sn formed in the 4.0 Ag and5.0 Ag solders.Nonetheless,the Ag content slightly impacted the corrosion behavior of the as-cast solders as characterized using potentiodynamic polarization test.After soldering,only a single layer of a Cu6 Sn5 intermetallic compound formed at the Sn-xAg/Cu interface.By comparison,the Cu6 Sn5 intermetallic layer of the Ag-doped solders was thinner than that of the 0Ag solder.The fine Ag3 Sn particles in the eutectic networks precipitating in the 3.0 Ag and 3.5 Ag solders effectively hindered the growth of Cu6 Sn5 grains compared to large plate-like Ag3 Sn in the 4.0 and 5.0Ag solders.

Effects of phosphorus addition on the properties of Sn-9Zn lead-free solder alloy

This article explores tile effects of phosphorus addition on the wettability between Sn-9Zn solder alloy and Cu substrates, the oxidation behavior and the corrosion behavior of Sn-9Zn solder alloy. Spreading test was used to characterize the wettability of Sn-9Zn-xP solder alloys to Cu substrates. The oxidation and corrosion behaviors of Sn- 9Zn-xP solder alloys were determined by means of weight gaining, and secondary ion mass spectrometry was used to analyze the oxygen content. The role and mechanism of P in the solder alloys were also discussed. It is found that the addition of P can significantly improve the wettability of the solder alloys. Incorporating P into Sn-9Zn solder alloy obviously decreases the oxygen content and enhances the oxidation and corrosion resistance. Microstructure observations show that an appropriate amount of P can greatly refine coarse rod-like Zn-rich phases in Sn-gZn solder alloy.

Effects of Ga,Al,Ag,and Ce multi-additions on the wetting characteristics of Sn-9Zn lead-free solder

An orthogonal method was used to evaluate the effects of Ga, Al, Ag, and Ce multi-additions on the wetting characteristics of Sn-9Zn lead-free solders by wetting balance method. The results show that the optimal loading of Ga, Al, Ag, and Ce was 0.2 wt.%, 0.002 wt.%, 0.25 wt.%, and 0.15 wt.%, respectively. Intermetallic compounds （IMCs） formed at the interface between Sn-9Zn-0.2Ga-0.002Al-0.25Ag- 0.15Ce solder and Cu substrate were investigated by scanning electron microscope （SEM） and energy dispersive spectroscopy （EDS） analysis. The SEM images illustrate that the IMCs can be divided into two portions from the substrate side to the solder side： a planar CusZns layer and an additional continuous scallop-like AgZn3 layer. The EDS analysis also shows that Ga segregates in the solder abutting upon the interface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS） and Auger electron spectroscopy （AES） of the surface components of Sn-9Zn-0.2Ga-0.002Al- 0.25Ag-0.15Ce solder indicate that Al aggregates at the surface in the form of Al203 protective fdm, which prevents the further oxidation of the solder surface. On the other hand, Ce aggregates at the subsurface, which may reduce the surface tension of the solder and improve the wettability in consequence.

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.

Effect of Microalloying on Wettability, Oxidation and Solidification Morphology of Sn-9Zn Alloy

Eutectic alloy Sn-9Zn is an attractive candidate for lead-free solders. However, its wettability to copper is poor thus,its development was limited. Effects of less than 1% (mass fraction) additions of mischmetal consisting mainly of La and Ce, heavy rare earth Y, pure P, Al, Mg and Ti elements on the wetting/adhesion behavior of Sn-9Zn alloy to copper, as well as the associated oxidation and solidification morphology of this alloy were examined. The results show that harmful effect on the wettability can be found when adding Al and Ti elements, while the wettability can be improved slightly by adding Mg and Y elements. The adhesion of the alloy to copper can be decreased by Mg element. The RE and P are found to significantly improve the wettability. In addition, oxidation of the alloy can be increased by adding RE, while little effect on the oxidation behavior can be found by adding P element. As-solidified Sn-9Zn alloy has a rough surface with protrusions and cavities shaped by coarse needle-like crystallites, while the Sn-37Pb sample has a rather smooth surface, which indicates the different solidification behavior of Sn-9Zn alloy and the Sn-37Pb one. The additions of the different elements investigated in this study do not alter Sn-9Zn's as-solidified morphology.

EFFECTS OF Zn CONCENTRATION ON WETTABILITY OF Sn-Zn ALLOY ON Cu AND ON THE INTERFACIAL MICROSTRUCTURE BETWEEN Sn-Zn ALLOY AND Cu

The potential of using a hypoeutectic, instead of eutectic, Sn-Zn alloy as a lead-free solder has been discussed. The nonequilibrium melting behaviors of a series of Sn-Zn alloys were examined by differential thermal analysis. It was found that at a heating rate of 5℃/min, Sn-6.SZn exhibited no melting range. Dipping and spreading tests were carried out to characterize the wettability of Sn-Zn alloys on Cu. Both tests exhibited that Sn-6.5Zn has significantly better wettability on Cu than Sn-9Zn. The reaction layers formed during the spreading tests were examined. When the Zn concentration fell between 2.5wt%-9wt%, two reaction layers were formed at the interface, a thick and flat Cu5Zn8 adjacent to Cu and a thin and irregular Cu-Zn-Sn layer adjacent to the alloy. Only a Cu0Sn5 layer was formed when the Zn concentration decreased to 0.5wt%. The total thickness of the reaction layer（s） between the alloy and Cu was found to increase linearly with the Zn concentration.

Wetting behavior and interfacial characteristic of Sn-Ag-Cu solder alloy on Cu substrate

Wettability of molten Sn-Ag-Cu alloy on Cu substrate has been determined by sessile drop method, as well as its dependence on time and temperature. It was found that the evolution of contact angle at the alloy’s melting point experienced four different stages. Especially, the contact angle was unstable and fluctuant in stage II, and gradually decreased in stage III mainly due to a chemical reaction between Sn-Ag-Cu alloy and Cu substrate. The contact angle decreased with increasing temperature, but increased slightly at 629 K, for another chemical reaction occurred. Interfacial characteristic has been further investigated by examining the sample’s cross section. Intermetallic compounds of Cu6Sn5 and β-Sn phase were found at the interface of Sn-Ag-Cu/Cu.

Microstructure,wetting property of Sn-Ag-Cu-Bi-xCe solder and IMC growth at solder/Cu interface during thermal cycling

The effects of adding small amounts of cerium(Ce) to Sn-3.3 Ag-0.2 Cu-4.7 Bi solder on microstructure,wettability characteristic,interfacial morphology and the growth of interfacial intermetallic compound(IMC) during thermal cycling were investigated by optical microscopy(OM),scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and solderability tester.It is found that the p-Sn phase,Ag_(3)Sn phase and Cu6 Sn5 phase in the solder are refined and the wetting force increases.Ce is an active element;it more easily accumulates at the solder/flux interface in the molten state,which decreases the interfacial surface energy and reduces the driving force for IMC formation on Cu substrate;therefore,the thickness of IMC at the solder/Cu interface decreases when appropriate Ce was added into the solder.Moreover,the Ce-containing solders have lower growth rate of interfacial IMC than solders without Ce during the thermal cycling between-55 and 125℃.When the Ce content is 0.03 wt% in the Sn-3.3 Ag-0.2 Cu-4.7 Bi solder,the solder has the best wettability and the minimum growth rate of interfacial IMC layer.

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.

Preparation and Properties of Particle Reinforced Sn-Zn-based Composite Solder

Particle reinforced Sn-Zn based composite solders were obtained by adding Cu powders to Sn-9Zn melts. The microstructure analysis reveals that in situ CusZn8 particles are formed and distributed uniformly in the composite solders. The strength and plasticity of the composite solders were improved, and creep resistance was considerably enhanced. The wettability of these composite solders is also better than that of Sn-9Zn.