Now showing 1 - 10 of 12
  • Publication
    Suppression of (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 Intermetallic Compound in Sn-0.7Cu-0.05Ni+1wt.TiO2 Solder Paste Composite Subjected to Isothermal Aging
    ( 2020-03-18)
    Mohd Said R.
    ;
    ;
    Salleh M.M.
    ;
    This paper investigated the intermetallic compound (IMC) layer that formed in Sn-0.7Cu-0.05Ni+1wt.% TiO2 (SCNT) composite solder paste added with reinforcement (TiO2) particles. Besides, the growth of the IMC layer during subsequent aging at temperature of 75 °C, 125 °C and 150 °C also being studied. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the IMC growth and to measure the thickness of IMC layer. The interfacial IMC layer has been suppressed whereas the activation energy value of the composite solder paste was high (37.35 kJ/mol) which in turn improved the thermal stability of the IMC layer. Results also show the IMC formed at bulk solder microstructure of SCNT solder paste composite was refined. The presence of TiO2 particles has become the obstacle for the Cu atom diffusion from the substrate to the solder and Sn atom from the solder, thus, successful for the suppression of the IMC layer.
  • Publication
    Influence of 1.5 wt.% Bi on the microstructure, hardness, and shear strength of Sn-0.7Cu solder joints after isothermal annealing
    ( 2021)
    Mohd Izrul Izwan Ramli
    ;
    ;
    Andrei Victor Sandu
    ;
    Siti Farahnabilah Muhd Amli
    ;
    ; ; ;
    Petrica Vizureanu
    ;
    Adam Rylski
    ;
    Jitrin Chaiprapa
    ;
    Marcin Nabialek
    This manuscript reports the isothermal annealing effect on the mechanical and microstructure characteristics of Sn-0.7Cu-1.5Bi solder joints. A detailed microstructure observation was carried out, including measuring the activation energy of the intermetallic compound (IMC) layer of the solder joints. Additionally, the synchrotron µX-ray fluorescence (XRF) method was adopted to precisely explore the elemental distribution in the joints. Results indicated that the Cu6Sn5 and Cu3Sn intermetallic layers thickness at the solder/Cu interface rises with annealing time at a rate of 0.042 µm/h for Sn-0.7Cu and 0.037 µm/h for Sn-0.7Cu-1.5Bi. The IMC growth’s activation energy during annealing is 48.96 kJ mol-1 for Sn-0.7Cu, while adding Bi into Sn-0.7Cu solder increased the activation energy to 55.76 kJ mol−1. The µ-XRF shows a lower Cu concentration level in Sn-0.7Cu-1.5Bi, where the Bi element was well dispersed in the β-Sn area as a result of the solid solution mechanism. The shape of the IMC layer also reconstructs from a scallop shape to a planar shape after the annealing process. The Sn-0.7Cu hardness and shear strength increased significantly with 1.5 wt.% Bi addition in reflowed and after isothermal annealing conditions.
  • Publication
    Performance of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu somposite solder with kaolin geopolymer ceramic reinforcement on microstructure and mechanical properties under isothermal ageing
    ( 2021)
    Nur Syahirah Mohamad Zaimi
    ;
    ;
    Andrei Victor Sandu
    ;
    ; ; ;
    Petrica Vizureanu
    ;
    Mohd Izrul Izwan Ramli
    ;
    This paper elucidates the effect of isothermal ageing at temperature of 85 °C, 125 °C and 150 °C for 100, 500 and 1000 h on Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC305) lead-free solder with the addition of 1 wt% kaolin geopolymer ceramic (KGC) reinforcement particles. SAC305-KGC composite solders were fabricated through powder metallurgy using a hybrid microwave sintering method and reflowed on copper substrate printed circuit board with an organic solderability preservative surface finish. The results revealed that, the addition of KGC was beneficial in improving the total thickness of interfacial intermetallic compound (IMC) layer. At higher isothermal ageing of 150 °C and 1000 h, the IMC layer in SAC305-KGC composite solder was towards a planar-type morphology. Moreover, the growth of total interfacial IMC layer and Cu3Sn layer during isothermal ageing was found to be controlled by bulk diffusion and grain-boundary process, respectively. The activation energy possessed by SAC305-KGC composite solder for total interfacial IMC layer and Cu3Sn IMC was 74 kJ/mol and 104 kJ/mol, respectively. Based on a lap shear test, the shear strength of SAC305-KGC composite solder exhibited higher shear strength than non-reinforced SAC305 solder. Meanwhile, the solder joints failure mode after shear testing was a combination of brittle and ductile modes at higher ageing temperature and time for SAC305-KGC composite solder.
  • Publication
    The study of interfacial reaction between SnAgCu (SAC) lead-free solder alloys and copper substrate: a short review
    (IOP Publishing Ltd., 2020)
    Chi Ying Tan
    ;
    ;
    This paper is aimed to review and study the interfacial reaction between SnAgCu (SAC) lead-free solder alloys and common copper substrates. Among the lead-free solders, a ternary solder alloys, SnAgCu (SAC) based solder, is leading the lead-free solders as it has excellent thermal and electrical properties. The interfacial between solder alloy and substrate comprise an important characteristic in the reliability performance of a solder alloy. As the current industry has driven to miniaturization, high integration and multifunctionality, the reliability and durability of solder joints are gained attention for its long-term performance of electronic products. Therefore, in this short review, the interfacial reaction between SAC solder alloys and copper substrate will be focused. Besides, the effects of the addition of microalloying elements into SAC solder alloys will be discussed.
  • Publication
    Microstructure and growth kinetic study in Sn–Cu transient liquid phase sintering solder paste
    (Springer, 2020) ;
    Mohammad Zikry Ramli
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    ;
    H. Yasuda
    ;
    ;
    K. Nogita
    The feasibility of the highly reliable and replicable microstructure formation of the transient liquid phase sintering (TLPS) paste during the early soldering and isothermal aging on the Cu substrate had been successfully investigated in this study. By using the Sn–0.7 wt% Cu (SC) solder paste as the base material and the Cu particles in the production of the TLPS Sn–10 wt% Cu (SC10) solder paste, the ensuing Cu6Sn5 phase from the isothermal aging process was found to have reduced the β-Sn area of the bulk SC10 solder microstructure. The growth kinetic for TLPS SC10 resulted in a 26.76 kJ/mol of activation energy level. The real-time synchrotron radiation imaging technique that was employed in studying the growth and formation of the primary intermetallic phases at the solder joints had also discovered the primary intermetallic in TLPS SC10 was not only found to have experienced an early nucleation just after the solder had melted, but its growth was also restricted prior to the solidification of the liquid solder. Therefore, the relevance of the results that were obtained from this research may offer a possible solution for aiding the future development of highly reliable solder joints in high temperature solder applications.
  • Publication
    The effect of thermal annealing on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Sn-0.7Cu-xZn solder joint
    The microstructural properties of a Pb-free solder joint significantly affect its mechanical behaviours. This paper details a systematic study of the effect of the annealing process on the microstructure and shear strength of a Zn-added Sn-0.7Cu solder joint. The results indicated that the IMC layer’s thickness at the solder/Cu interface increases with annealing time. The interfacial IMC layer of the Sn-0.7Cu solder joint gradually thickened with increasing annealing time and annealing temperature, while the interfacial IMC layer’s morphology changed from scallop-type to layer-type after the annealing process. However, the addition of 1.0 wt.% and 1.5 wt.% Zn in the Sn-0.7Cu effectively altered the interfacial IMC phase to Cu-Zn and suppressed the growth of Cu3Sn during the annealing process. The single-lap shear tests results confirmed that the addition of Zn decreased the shear strength of Sn-0.7Cu. The interfacial IMC of the Cu6Sn5 phase in Sn-0.7Cu changed to Cu-Zn due to the addition of Zn. The shear fractures in the annealed solder joint were ductile within the bulk solder instead of the interfacial IMC layer. Increased annealing time resulted in the increased presence of the Cu-Zn phase, which decreased the hardness and shear strength of the Sn-0.7Cu solder joint.
      2  19
  • Publication
    The effect of Germanium addition on the lead-free solder alloys: a short review
    (IOP Publishing Ltd, 2020)
    Chi Ying Tan
    ;
    ;
    The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) has been enforced a law to restrict the use of hazardous materials in electronic and electrical industries. Hence, it leads to the development of lead-free solder among the electronic industry. SnAg, SnCu, SnAgCu, and SnZnBi solders are found to be alternatives to replace SnPb solder alloys. However, they still have many problems, such as large undercooling and large intermetallic compounds are still present in the solder alloys. Later, researchers come up with the idea of adding alloying elements to lead-free solders to further enhance the properties of lead-free solders. This review paper is aimed to analyze and summaries the effects of germanium (Ge) addition to lead-free solders focusing on its microstructure and thermal properties. The Ge has an almost similar crystal structure as pure tin (Sn), so it is expected that the properties of the lead-free solder could be enhanced by adding an appropriate amount of Ge. Nevertheless, Ge has a unique characteristic as it could act as an antioxidant agent in the lead-free solders.
      2  11
  • Publication
    The effect of thermal annealing on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Sn-0.7Cu-xZn Solder Joint
    The microstructural properties of a Pb-free solder joint significantly affect its mechanical behaviours. This paper details a systematic study of the effect of the annealing process on the microstructure and shear strength of a Zn-added Sn-0.7Cu solder joint. The results indicated that the IMC layer’s thickness at the solder/Cu interface increases with annealing time. The interfacial IMC layer of the Sn-0.7Cu solder joint gradually thickened with increasing annealing time and annealing temperature, while the interfacial IMC layer’s morphology changed from scallop-type to layer-type after the annealing process. However, the addition of 1.0 wt.% and 1.5 wt.% Zn in the Sn-0.7Cu effectively altered the interfacial IMC phase to Cu-Zn and suppressed the growth of Cu3Sn during the annealing process. The single-lap shear tests results confirmed that the addition of Zn decreased the shear strength of Sn-0.7Cu. The interfacial IMC of the Cu6Sn5 phase in Sn-0.7Cu changed to Cu-Zn due to the addition of Zn. The shear fractures in the annealed solder joint were ductile within the bulk solder instead of the interfacial IMC layer. Increased annealing time resulted in the increased presence of the Cu-Zn phase, which decreased the hardness and shear strength of the Sn-0.7Cu solder joint.
      2  9
  • Publication
    Performance of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu composite solder with kaolin geopolymer ceramic reinforcement on microstructure and mechanical properties under isothermal ageing
    ( 2021)
    Nur Syahirah Mohamad Zaimi
    ;
    ;
    Andrei Victor Sandu
    ;
    ; ; ;
    Petrica Vizureanu
    ;
    ;
    Mohd Izrul Izwan Ramli
    This paper elucidates the effect of isothermal ageing at temperature of 85 °C, 125 °C and 150 °C for 100, 500 and 1000 h on Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC305) lead-free solder with the addition of 1 wt% kaolin geopolymer ceramic (KGC) reinforcement particles. SAC305-KGC composite solders were fabricated through powder metallurgy using a hybrid microwave sintering method and reflowed on copper substrate printed circuit board with an organic solderability preservative surface finish. The results revealed that, the addition of KGC was beneficial in improving the total thickness of interfacial intermetallic compound (IMC) layer. At higher isothermal ageing of 150 °C and 1000 h, the IMC layer in SAC305-KGC composite solder was towards a planar-type morphology. Moreover, the growth of total interfacial IMC layer and Cu3Sn layer during isothermal ageing was found to be controlled by bulk diffusion and grain-boundary process, respectively. The activation energy possessed by SAC305-KGC composite solder for total interfacial IMC layer and Cu3Sn IMC was 74 kJ/mol and 104 kJ/mol, respectively. Based on a lap shear test, the shear strength of SAC305-KGC composite solder exhibited higher shear strength than non-reinforced SAC305 solder. Meanwhile, the solder joints failure mode after shear testing was a combination of brittle and ductile modes at higher ageing temperature and time for SAC305-KGC composite solder.
      2  10
  • Publication
    Performance of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu composite solder with Kaolin geopolymer ceramic reinforcement on microstructure and mechanical properties under isothermal ageing
    ( 2021)
    Nur Syahirah Mohamad Zaimi
    ;
    ;
    Andrei Victor Sandu
    ;
    ; ; ;
    Petrica Vizureanu
    ;
    ;
    Mohd Izrul Izwan Ramli
    This paper elucidates the effect of isothermal ageing at temperature of 85 °C, 125 °C and 150 °C for 100, 500 and 1000 h on Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC305) lead-free solder with the addition of 1 wt% kaolin geopolymer ceramic (KGC) reinforcement particles. SAC305-KGC composite solders were fabricated through powder metallurgy using a hybrid microwave sintering method and reflowed on copper substrate printed circuit board with an organic solderability preservative surface finish. The results revealed that, the addition of KGC was beneficial in improving the total thickness of interfacial intermetallic compound (IMC) layer. At higher isothermal ageing of 150 °C and 1000 h, the IMC layer in SAC305-KGC composite solder was towards a planar-type morphology. Moreover, the growth of total interfacial IMC layer and Cu3Sn layer during isothermal ageing was found to be controlled by bulk diffusion and grain-boundary process, respectively. The activation energy possessed by SAC305-KGC composite solder for total interfacial IMC layer and Cu3Sn IMC was 74 kJ/mol and 104 kJ/mol, respectively. Based on a lap shear test, the shear strength of SAC305-KGC composite solder exhibited higher shear strength than non-reinforced SAC305 solder. Meanwhile, the solder joints failure mode after shear testing was a combination of brittle and ductile modes at higher ageing temperature and time for SAC305-KGC composite solder.
      2  15