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On the Microstructure of Off-Eutectic Au-Ge Joints: A High-Temperature Joint

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Abstract

Joining delicate electronic components for high-temperature applications is challenging. Regular soldering with lead-free or lead-based materials is typically not suitable for high-temperature applications due to their low melting points. Using off-eutectic compounds for joints offer an easy and gentle process creating joints that can be formed at a lower process temperature than the final operation temperature. Microstructural evolution near the eutectic melting point is key to be able to form reliable joints. A layered Au/eutectic Au-Ge/Au structure was used to form Au-rich off-eutectic Au-Ge joints. Columnar-like structures of primary \( \alpha \)-phase (Au) protruded through a Ge-rich off-eutectic Au-Ge mixture at the center of the joint. These structures connect the joined pieces with a single solid phase with a melting point of ca. 1064 °C. The microstructure coarsened when exposed to temperatures between 300 °C and 380 °C, i.e., near the eutectic melting point at 361 °C. Ge diffused and accumulated along grain boundaries between Au grains. Annealing above the eutectic melting point, Ge rapidly diffused and formed larger colonies of pure Ge surrounded by a Au matrix. This accords well with our previously published results demonstrating shear strength capacity of similar joints at temperatures well above the eutectic temperature.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Christian Thoresen (USN). The authors would also like to acknowledge Torleif A. Tollefsen (TEGma AS) and Ole Martin Løvvik (SINTEF) for their support in the project. We would like to thank TECHNI AS, TEGma AS, and The Norwegian Research Council for financial support of the project (Project No.: 244915).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Physics, TECHNI AS, Borre, Norway

    Andreas Larsson

  2. Department of Materials and Micro-Integration, University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), Borre, Norway

    Andreas Larsson & Knut E. Aamundtveit

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  1. Andreas Larsson
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  2. Knut E. Aamundtveit
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Correspondence to Andreas Larsson.

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Manuscript submitted June 23, 2019.

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Larsson, A., Aamundtveit, K.E. On the Microstructure of Off-Eutectic Au-Ge Joints: A High-Temperature Joint. Metall Mater Trans A 51, 740–749 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-019-05530-4

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