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Mixed Assembly of Lead-free Solder Joint: A Short Review

2022-01-24 , Rita Mohd Said , Mohd Arif Anuar Mohd Salleh , Ramli M.I.I. , Saud N. , Flora Somidin , Razak N.R.A. , Ismail A.N.

The transition from lead (Pb) to Pb-free solder has arisen the need for the development of the reliability of mixed assemblies solder joint research. Mixed assemblies are defined as solder joints that joint together with different compositions or solder forms for example Ball Grid Array (BGA) and solder paste. During the transition period of solder materials, mixed assemblies are still used in electronic packaging. In addition, Pb-free manufacturing has been forced to release some of the product categories since legislation banning the use of lead solder in electronic assemblies. This phenomenon causes health and environmental concern of the Pb solder used in electronic assembly. Hence, some electronic assemblies will continue to use traditional eutectic Sn-Pb solder paste while others will use Pb-free solder paste. This situation indicates that the use of mixed assemblies in electronics manufacturing is still inevitable. This paper presents a projection of the reliability of mixed assembly's Pb-free solder joint.

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Microstructural evolution of Cu/Sn-58Bi/Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu composite solder joint during isothermal aging

2022-01-24 , Flora Somidin , Bakar M.F.A. , Razak N.R.A.

A composite solder joints made of Cu/Sn-58Bi/Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (in weight percent) was successfully fabricated. The composite solder was made from combining a Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder ball and Sn-58Bi solder paste. The composite solder was reflowed on Cu-OSP (copper-organic solderability preservatives) substrate to form a composite solder joint. The microstructure evolution of the composite solder joints under different reflow temperature and thermal aging conditions were investigated using an optical microscope. This study shows that a composite solder joint of SAC305/Sn-58Bi can be assembled at lower temperature (160 °C) and gradually mixed through isothermal aging.

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Publication

Fabrication and characterization of hybrid microwave assisted sintering Sn-0.7Cu + 1.0wt.% Si₃N₄ composite solder

2015 , Flora Somidin

One of the leading choices in upgrading the properties of existing lead-free solder alloys is by composite technology approach, whereby high technical ceramic particles can be added into the solder alloy matrix. Accordingly, Sn-0.7Cu + 1.0wt.% Si₃N₄ composite solder was synthesized using powder metallurgy routes which consist of blending, compaction and sintering. This research introduced a hybrid microwave assisted sintering process which can sinter ceramic-reinforced composite solder at approximately 185˚C within 2 minutes without holding time and protective inert gas. In order to evaluate the compatibility of hybrid microwave assisted sintering approach in ceramic-reinforced composite solder development, a detailed comparison of the process and properties of conventionally sintered and microwave sintered samples of Sn-0.7Cu + 1.0wt.% Si₃N₄ composite solder was performed. Identical sintering temperature at 185 ˚C was used for both types of sintering, in which conventional sintering was performed using a tube furnace in an argon atmosphere for 2 hours. The monolithic Sn-0.7Cu solder sample was also synthesized as control sample in a similar way. Hybrid microwave assisted sintering method showed significant advantages in processing compared to conventional sintering method, such as rapid heating rate, shortened sintering time, less energy consumption and much less expensive equipment. The influence of different sintering methodologies on Sn-0.7Cu + 1.0wt.% Si₃N₄ bulk solder sample were investigated based on the density, porosity, microhardness, microstructures, wettability and intermetallic compound thickness on Cu-substrate. It was noted that microwave sintering method can densify the Sn-0.7Cu + 1.0wt.% Si₃N₄ composite bulk solder green compact in a short time, however, conventional sintered sample showed better density and porosity. Interestingly, finer and well-distributed precipitates were observed in microwave sintered samples. This has led to higher microhardness performance observed in microwave sintered sample (12.0 ± 0.2 HV) compared to the conventionally sintered sample (11.2 ± 0.1 HV). The wettability performance of Sn-0.7Cu + 1.0wt.% Si₃N₄ composite solder on Cu-substrate was slightly reduced with microwave sintering approach, however, insignificant difference of intermetallic compound thickness was observed in both microwave sintered and conventionally sintered samples. Overall, hybrid microwave assisted sintering showed better processing with promising properties on ceramic-reinforced Sn-0.7Cu + 1.0wt.% Si₃N₄ composite solder.