Abstract
Reflow behavior of a Sn–8.5Zn–0.5Ag–0.01Al–0.1Ga (five-element) solder on the Ni/Cu substrate was investigated under different heating rates. Reflowed samples show decreased Zn and increased AgZn3 in the solder with a reduction in the heating rate. The Zn at the solder/substrate interface was found to be much lower than that in the Sn–Zn solder systems. Cu was observed to be diffused through the electroplated Ni layer and noticed only with the Ag–Zn compound in the solder. Ga was spotted at the interface in the Ag–Zn matrix, whereas Al was detected with the Zn at the interface. Small intermetallic compound (IMC) layer was formed at the interface; however, its amount enhanced with the reduction in the heating rate. Present study relates the reflow behavior of the five-element solder with the reactivity of different elements in the system and its influence on the formation of IMCs in the solder and at the solder/substrate interface.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
J. Mittal, S.M. Kuo, Y.W. Lin, and K.L. Lin: Diffusion behavior of Zn during reflow of Sn-9Zn solder on Ni/Cu substrate. J. Electron. Mater. 38, 2436 (2009).
Y. Sogo, T. Hojo, H. Iwanishi, A. Hirose, K.F. Kobayashi, A. Yamaguchi, A. Furusawa, and K. Nishida: Influence of the interfacial reaction layer on reliability of CSP joints using Sn-8Zn-3Bi solder and Ni/Au plating. Mater. Trans. 45, 734 (2004).
K. Suganuma, T. Murata, N. Noguchi, and Y. Toyoda: Heat resistance of Sn-9Zn solder/Cu interface with or without coating. J. Mater. Res. 15, 884 (2000).
W. Yang, R.W. Messler, and L.E. Felton: Microstructure evolution of eutectic Sn-Ag solder joints. J. Electron. Mater. 23, 765 (1994).
H. Mavoori, J. Chin, S. Vaynman, B. Moran, L. Keer, and M.E. Fine: Creep, stress relaxation and plastic deformation in Sn-Ag and Sn-Zn eutectic solders. J. Electron. Mater. 26, 783 (1997).
C.W. Huang and K.L. Lin: Microstructures and mechanical properties of Sn-8.55Zn-0.45Al-XAg solders. J. Mater. Res. 18, 1528 (2003).
K.L. Lin, L.H. Wen, and T.P. Liu: The microstructures of the Sn-Zn-Al solder alloys. J. Electron. Mater. 27, 97 (1998).
K.L. Lin and T.P. Liu: High temperature oxidation of a Sn-Zn-Al solder. Oxid. Met. 50, 255 (1998).
K.I. Chen, S.C. Cheng, S. Wu, and K.L. Lin: Effects of small additions of Ag, Al and Ga on the structure and properties of the Sn-Zn eutectic alloy. J. Alloy. Comp. 41, 98 (2006).
S.P. Yu, H.C. Wang, M.H. Hon, and M.C. Wang: Composition and heat-treatment effects on the adhesion strength of Sn-Zn-Al solders on Cu substrate. JOM 36, 36 (2000).
M. Date, T. Shoji, M. Fujiyoshi, K. Sato and K.N. Tu: Ductile to brittle transition in Sn-Zn solder joints measured by impact test. Scr. Mater. 51, 641 (2004).
J.W. Yoon, B.B. Lee, and S.B. Jung: Growth of an intermetallic compound layer with Sn-3.5Ag-5Bi on Cu and Ni-P/Cu during aging treatment. J. Electron. Mater. 32, 1195 (2003).
R.S. Lai, K.L. Lin, and B. Salam: Suppressing growth of the Cu5Zn8 intermetallic layer in Sn-Zn-Ag-Al-Ga/Cu solder joints. J. Electron. Mater. 38, 88 (2009).
K.W. Andrews, H.E. Davies, W. Hume-Rothery, and C.R. Oswin: The equilibrium diagram of the system silver-zinc. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A177, 149 (1940–1941).
K.L. Lin and C.L. Shih: Microstructure and thermal behavior of Sn-Zn-Ag solders. J. Electron. Mater. 32, 1496 (2003).
W. Zhu, H. Liu, J. Wang, G. Ma, and Z. Jin: Interfacial reactions between Sn-Zn alloys and Ni substrates. J. Electron. Mater. 39, 209 (2010).
F.R. de Bore, R. Boom, W.C.M. Mattens, A.R. Miedema, and A.K. Niessen: Cohesion in Metals: Transition Metal Alloys (Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., 1988).
X.F. Zhang, J.D. Guo, and J.K. Shang: Controlling intermetallic compounds formation reaction between Sn and Ni-P by Zn addition. J. Alloy. Comp. 479, 505 (2009).
P. Nash and Y.Y. Pan: Phase Diagrams of Binary Nickel Alloys, edited by P. Nash (ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 1991), p. 382.
T.B. Massalski, H. Okamoto, P.R. Subramanian, and L. Kacprzak: Binary Alloy Phase Diagrams, 2nd ed. (ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 1990).
W.K. Liou and Y.W. Yen: Interfacial reactions between Cu addition on Sn-9Zn lead-free solder and Ni substrate. J. Electron. Mater. 18, 2222 (2009).
J. Chang, S.K. Seo, and H.M. Lee: Phase equilibria in the Sn-Ni-Zn ternary system: Isothermal sections at 200°C, 500°C, and 800°C. J. Electron. Mater. 99, 2643 (2010).
C. Schmetterer, D. Rajamohan, H. Ipser, and H. Flandorfer: The high-temperature phase equilibria of the Ni-Sn-Zn system: Isothermal sections. Intermetallics 19, 1489 (2011).
Y. Yuan, S. Delsante, D. Li, and G. Borzone: The isothermal section of the Ni-Sn-Zn phase diagram at 873 K. Intermetallics 19, 1646 (2011).
V. Gandova, D. Soares, K. Lilova, J.C. Tedenac, and G.P. Vassilev: Phase equilibria in the Sn-Zn-Ni system. Inter. J. Mat. Res. 102, 257 (2011).
J-L. Liang, Y. Du, Y-Y. Tang, S-B. Xie, H-H. Xu, L-M. Zeng, Y. Liu, Q-M. Zhu, and L-Q. Nong: Phase equilibria in the Ni-Sn-Zn system at 500°C. J. Electron. Mater. 40, 2290 (2011).
W. Chen, S. Xue, H. Wang, J. Wang, and Z. Han: Solderability and intermetallic compounds formation of Sn-9Zn-xAg lead free solders wetted on Cu substrates. Rare Met. 28, 656 (2009).
R. Hultgren, P.D. Desai, D.T. Hawkins, M. Gleioser, and K.K. Kelley: Select Values of Thermodynamic Properties of Binary Alloys (ASM International, Metals Park, OH, 1973).
H.F. Zou and Z.F. Zhang: Effect of Zn addition on interfacial reactions between Sn-4Ag solder and Ag substrates. J. Electron. Mater. 37, 1119 (2008).
C.C. Jao, Y.W. Yen, C.Y. Lin, and C. Lee: Phase equilibiria of the Sn-Zn-Ag system and interfacial reactions in Sn-Zn/Ag couples. Intermetallics 16, 463 (2008).
T.C. Hsuan and K.L. Lin: Microstructural evolution of AgZn3 and Zn phases in Sn-8.5Zn-0.5Ag-0.01Al-0.1Ga solder during aging treatment. J. Alloy. Comp. 469, 350 (2009).
M. Date, K.N. Tu, T. Shoji, M. Fujiyoshi, and K. Sato: Interfacial reactions and impact reliability of Sn-Zn solder joints on Cu or electroless Au/Ni(P) bond-pads. J. Mater. Res. 19, 2887 (2004).
C.S. Huang, J.G. Duh, Y.M. Chen, and J.H. Wang: Effects of Ni thickness and reflow times on interfacial reactions between Ni/Cu under bump metallization and eutectic Sn-Pb solder in flip chip technology. J. Electron. Mater. 32, 89 (2008).
C.S. Huang, G.Y. Jang, and J.G. Duh: Soldering-induced Cu diffusion and intermetallic compound formation between Ni/Cu under bump metallization and SnPb flip-chip solder bumps. J. Electron. Mater. 33, 283 (2004).
Y.A. Chang, J.P. Neumann, A. Mikula, D. Goldberg: “Cu-Sn-Zn”, Phase Diagrams. Thermodynamic Properties Ternary Copper-Metal Systems. 6, 678 (1979).
P.E.A. Turchi, M. Sluiter, F.J. Pinski, D.D. Johnson, D.M. Nicholson, G.M. Stocks, and J.B. Staunton: First-principles study of phase stability in Cu-Zn substitutional alloys. Phys. Rev. Lett. 67, 1779 (1991).
C-Y. Chou and S-W. Chen: Phase equilibria of the Sn–Zn–Cu ternary system. Acta Mater. 54, 2393 (2006).
Y-C. Huang, S-W. Chen, C-Y. Chou, and W. Gierlotka: Liquidus projection and thermodynamic modeling of Sn–Zn–Cu ternary system. J. Alloy. Comp. 477, 283 (2009).
C.M. Chuang, H.T. Hung, P.C. Liu, and K.L. Lin: The interfacial reaction between Sn-Zn-Ag-Ga-Al solders and metalized Cu substrate. J. Electron. Mater. 33, 7 (2004).
R. Hultgren, P.D. Desai, D.T. Hawkins, M. Gleiser, and K.K. Kelley: Selected Values of the Thermodynamic Properties of Binary Alloys (ASM International, Metals Park, OH, 1973), p 115.
C.H. Yu and K.L. Lin: Early stage soldering reaction and interfacial microstructure formed between molten Sn-Zn-Ag solder and Cu substrate. J. Mater. Res. 20, 1242 (2005).
N.S. Liu and K.L. Lin: Evolution of interfacial morphology of Sn-8.5Zn-0.5Ag-0.1Al-xGa/Cu system during isothermal aging. J. Alloy. Comp. 456, 466 (2008).
N.S. Liu and K.L. Lin: The effect of Ga content on the wetting reaction and interfacial morphology formed between Sn-8.5Zn-0.5 Ag-0.1Al-xGa solders and Cu. Scr. Mater. 54, 219 (2006).
S.C. Chang, S.C. Lin, and K.C. Hsieh: The formation and growth of intermetallic compounds in Sn-Zn and Sn-Zn-Al solder with Ni/Cu surface finish bond pad. J. Electron. Mater. 35, 399 (2006).
V. Raghavan: Al-Cu-Zn (Aluminium-Copper-Zinc). J. Phase Equilib. Diffus. 28, 183 (2010).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The support of this study by the National Science Council (NSC) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) under Grant NSC98-2211-E-006-MY3 is gratefully acknowledged. One of authors (J. Mittal) is grateful to NSC for his financial support during the course of this work under Grant NSC98-2811-E-006-059.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mittal, J., Lin, K.L. Diffusion of Cu and interfacial reactions during reflow of Sn−8.5Zn−0.5Ag−0.01Al−0.1Ga alloy on Ni/Cu substrate. Journal of Materials Research 27, 1142–1148 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2012.68
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2012.68