Effect of primary creep and plasticity in the modeling of thermal fatigue of SnPb and SnAgCu solder joints

It has been conventional to simplify the thermo-mechanical modeling of solder joints by omitting the primary (transient) contributions to total creep deformation, assuming that secondary (steady-state) creep strain is dominant and primary creep is negligible. The error associated with this assumption has been difficult to assess because it depends on the properties of the solder joint and the temperature–time profile. This paper examines the relative contributions of plasticity, primary and secondary creep in Sn40Pb and Sn3.8Ag0.7Cu solders using the analysis of a trilayer solder joint structure with finite elements and a newly developed finite difference technique. The influences of temperature amplitude and ramp rate have been quantified. It was found that for the thermal profiles considered, the role of plasticity was negligible for trilayer assemblies with SnPb and SnAgCu solder interlayers. Furthermore, when primary creep was included for SnAgCu, the temperature-dependent yield strength was not exceeded and no plastic strains resulted. Neglect of primary creep can result in errors in the predicted stress and strain of the solder joint. Damage metrics based on the stabilized stress vs. strain hysteresis loop, for symmetric 5 min upper/lower dwell periods, differ widely when primary creep is considered compared to the secondary-only creep model. Creep strain energy density differences between the secondary-only and primary plus secondary creep models for SnPb were 32% (95 °C/min–Δ165 °C thermal profile), 32% (95 °C/min–Δ100 °C) and 35% (14 °C/min–Δ100 °C); similarly for SnAgCu, the differences were 29% (95 °C/min–Δ165 °C), 46% (95 °C/min–Δ100 °C) and 58% (14 °C/min–Δ100 °C). Accumulated creep strain differences between the secondary-only and primary plus secondary creep models for SnPb were 21% (95 °C/min–Δ165 °C), 25% (95 °C/min–Δ100 °C) and 25% (14 °C/min–Δ100 °C); similarly for SnAgCu the differences were 82% (14 °C/min–Δ100 °C), 89% (95 °C/min–Δ100 °C) and 100% (95 °C/min–Δ165 °C). In turn, these discrepancies can lead to errors in the estimation of the solder thermal fatigue life due to the changing proportion of primary creep strain to total inelastic strain under different thermal profiles, particularly for SnAgCu.     

CCGA packages for space applications

Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) area array packaging technologies in high reliability versions are now being considered for applications, including use in a number of NASA electronic systems being utilized for both the Space Shuttle and Mars Rover missions. Indeed, recently a ceramic package version specifically tailored for high reliability applications was used to provide the processing power required for the Spirit and Opportunity Mars Rovers built by NASA-JPL. Both Rovers successfully completed their 3-months mission requirements and continued exploring the Martian surface for many more moths, providing amazing new information on previous environmental conditions of Mars and strong evidence that water exists on Mars.Understanding process, reliability, and quality assurance (QA) indicators for reliability are important for low risk insertion of these newly available packages in high reliability applications. In a previous investigation, thermal cycle test results for a non-functional daisy-chained peripheral ceramic column grid array (CCGA) and its plastic ball grid array (PBGA) version, both having 560 I/Os, were gathered and are presented here. Test results included environmental data for three different thermal cycle regimes (−55/125 °C, −55/100 °C, and −50/75 °C). Detailed information on these—especially failure type for assemblies with high and low solder volumes—are presented. The thermal cycle test procedure followed those recommended by IPC-9701 for tin–lead solder joint assemblies. Its revision A covers guideline thermal cycle requirements for Pb-free solder joints. Key points on this specification are also discussed.In a recent investigation a fully populated CCGA with 717 I/Os was considered for assembly reliability evaluation. The functional package is a field-programmable gate array that has much higher processing power than its previous version. This new package is smaller in dimension, has no interposer, and has a thinner column wrapped with copper for reliability improvement. This paper will also present thermal cycle test results for assemblies of this and its plastic package version with 728 I/Os, both of which were exposed to four different cycle regimes. Two of these cycle profiles are specified by IPC-9701A for tin–lead, namely, −55 to 100 °C and −55 to 125 °C. One is a cycle profile specified by Mil-Std-883, namely, −65/150 °C, generally used for ceramic hybrid packages screening and qualification. The last cycle is in the range of −120 to 85 °C, a representative of electronic systems directly exposed to the Martian environment without use in a thermal control enclosure. Per IPC-9701A, test vehicles were built using daisy chain packages and were continuously monitored and/or manually checked for opens at intervals. The effects of many process and assembly variables—including corner staking commonly used for improving resistance to mechanical loading such as drop and vibration loads—were also considered as part of the test matrix. Optical photomicrographs were taken at various thermal cycle intervals to document damage progress and behavior. Representative samples of these are presented along with cross-sectional photomicrographs at higher magnification taken by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine crack propagation and failure analyses for packages.     

Accelerated thermal fatigue of lead-free solder joints as a function of reflow cooling rate

Leadless chip resistor (LCR) assemblies were manufactured using both traditional tin-lead (Sn37Pb) and lead-free (Sn3.8Ag0.7Cu) solders. The leadfree test vehicles were assembled using three different cooling rates: 1.6°C/sec, 3.8°C/sec, and 6.8°C/sec. They were then exposed to accelerated thermalcycling (ATC) tests between 0°C and 100°C with a 10–14°C/min ramp rate and a 5-min dwell time. The test results indicated that these lead-free solder joints had better creep-fatigue performance than the tin-lead solder joints. The LCR built with the medium cooling rate showed the longest fatigue life compared with the resistors built with the normal cooling rate of 1.6°C/sec and the higher cooling rate 6.8°C/sec. The number of cycles to failure was significantly correlated to the void defect rate. Failure analyses were done using cross-sectioning methods and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finite-element models were built to analyze the inelastic, equivalent strain range in solder joints subjected to thermal-cycling conditions with different degrees of solder wetting. The results indicated that poor wetting increases strains throughout the joint significantly, which is in accordance with the ATC results.     

Digital image correlation for solder joint fatigue reliability in microelectronics packages

Digital image correlation (DIC) measurement of solder joint strain resulting from thermal cycling fatigue loading is reported in this study. The experimental measurements are compared to finite element analysis modeling of solder joint strain in a plastic ball grid array (PBGA) soldered assembly. The PBGA test sample was cross-sectioned and mounted in a thermal cycling chamber and subject to in-situ temperature cycling between 25 °C and 100 °C. The local solder joint strain range accumulated during temperature cycling was measured by the DIC technique. The in-plane inelastic strains in the solder joint accumulated after the 7th and the 14th thermal cycle were measured directly by the DIC system and computed by an element-based DIC analysis software developed by the author. Finite element analysis was conducted to simulate the loading used in the experiments and comparison was made to the experimental results. The measured and predicted displacement field patterns show satisfactory correlation and agreement.     

Effects of process conditions on reliability, microstructure evolution and failure modes of SnAgCu solder joints

In this study, microstructure evolution at intermetallic interfaces in SnAgCu solder joints of an area array component was investigated at various stages of a thermal cycling test. Failure modes of solder joints were analyzed to determine the effects of process conditions on crack propagation. Lead-free printed-circuit-board (PCB) assemblies were carried out using different foot print designs on PCBs, solder paste deposition volume and reflow profiles. Lead-free SnAgCu plastic-ball-grid-array (PBGA) components were assembled onto PCBs using SnAgCu solder paste. The assembled boards were subjected to the thermal cycling test (−40 °C/+125 °C), and crack initiation and crack propagation during the test were studied. Microstructure analysis and measurements of interface intermetallic growth were conducted using samples after 0, 1000, 2000 and 3000 thermal cycles. Failures were not found before 5700 thermal cycles and the characteristic lives of all solder joints produced using different process and design parameters were more than 7200 thermal cycles, indicating robust solder joints produced with a wide process window. In addition, the intermetallic interfaces were found to have Sn–Ni–Cu. The solder joints consisted of two Ag–Sn compounds exhibiting unique structures of Sn-rich and Ag-rich compounds. A crystalline star-shaped structure of Sn–Ni–Cu–P was also observed in a solder joint. The intermetallic thicknesses were less than 3 μm. The intermetallics growth was about 10% after 3000 thermal cycles. However, these compounds did not affect the reliability of the solder joints. Furthermore, findings in this study were compared with those in previous studies, and the comparison proved the validity of this study.     

Accelerated active ageing test on SiC JFETs power module with silver joining technology for high temperature application

This paper presents the accelerated active power cycling test (APCT) results on SiC JFETs power module dedicated to operate at high temperature. This study partly focuses on the new chip joining technology (LTJT), which permit to use SiC JFETs transistors at higher temperatures. We present the different die attachments tested with high temperature lead solder and silver sintering joining technologies. Active power cycling results for high junction temperature T_jmax = 175 °C with ΔT_j = 80 K to perform an evaluation of main damages during active test are carried out and a comparison between lead and silver chip joining technologies is presented.     

Fatigue analysis of miniaturized lead-free solder contacts based on a novel test concept

The paper presents the method of generating lifetime-prediction-laws on special prepared very stiff specimen. The combination of thin- and thick-film technology allows building up test samples on ceramic very similar to electronic packages including the measurement issues. Influences of pad surface metallurgy, microstructure of solder, ineutectic solder alloys and assembly process parameter are regarded now. The investigation objects provide monitoring of electrical and mechanical damage process of SnAgCu solder bump. Different thermo-mechanical loads will be applied in temperature ranges of 0 to +80 °C, −40 to +125 °C and −50 to +150 °C, where the temperature gradient and cycle frequency also vary. A Variation of four different chip sizes allows the determination of fatigue laws for each temperature profile, to be able to compare in between them. The results of these tests will give universal lifetime-prediction laws for SnAgCu base solder joints. Main goals are to find coefficients for lifetime prediction models such as Coffin–Manson- or Norris–Landzberg-relation, which are transferable in between different electronic packages.     

Impact of board and component metallizations on microstructure and reliability of lead-free solder joints

Aging and accelerated thermal cycling (ATC) have been performed on 2512 chip resistors assembled with Sn3.8Ag0.7Cu (wt.%) solder. The boards were finished with immersion Ag (IAg), electroless nickel/immersion gold (ENIG), and hot air solder leveling Sn–Pb eutectic solder (HASL), and the components’ terminations were finished with 100% Sn and Sn8.0Pb (wt.%). The boards were reflowed with an average cooling rate of 1.6 °C/s. It was found that the microstructure and reliability of the solder joints depended on the board surface finish. The boards containing small amounts of Pb (from board/component terminations) were the most reliable. Solder joints to copper showed a significantly higher number of cycles to first failure than the joints on nickel. Better reliability of the Sn3.8Ag0.7Cu/Cu joints was attributed to an increased copper content in the bulk due to substrate dissolution.     

Thermal fatigue endurance of collapsible 95.5Sn4Ag0.5Cu spheres in LTCC/PWB assemblies

The behavior of thermomechanically loaded collapsible 95.5Sn4Ag0.5Cu spheres in LTCC/PWB assemblies with high (LTCC/FR-4; ΔCTE 10 ppm/°C) and low (LTCC/Arlon; ΔCTE < 10 ppm/°C) global thermal mismatches was studied by exposing the assemblies into two thermal cycling tests. The characteristic lifetimes of the LTCC/FR-4 assemblies, tested over the temperature ranges of 0–100 °C and −40 to 125 °C, were 1475 and 524 cycles, respectively, whereas the corresponding values of the LTCC/Arlon assemblies were 5424 and 1575 cycles. According to the typical requirements for the industrial lifetime duration of solder joints, the former values are inadequate, whereas the latter are at an acceptable level in a few cases. Furthermore, the global thermal mismatch affected the thermal fatigue behavior of the 95.5Sn4Ag0.5Cu spheres in the temperature range of −40 to 125 °C.     

Properties of low temperature Sn–Ag–Bi–In solder systems

The metallurgical and mechanical properties of Sn–3.5 wt%Ag–0.5 wt%Bi–xwt%In (x = 0–16) alloys and of their joints during 85 °C/85% relative humidity (RH) exposure and heat cycle test (−40–125 °C) were evaluated by microstructure observation, high temperature X-ray diffraction analysis, shear and peeling tests. The exposure of Sn–Ag–Bi–In joints to 85 °C/85%RH for up to 1000 h promotes In–O formation along the free surfaces of the solder fillets. The 85°C/85%RH exposure, however, does not influence the joint strength for 1000 h. Comparing with Sn–Zn–Bi solders, Sn–Ag–Bi–In solders are much stable against moisture, i.e. even at 85 °C/85%RH. Sn–Ag–Bi–In alloys with middle In content show severe deformation under a heat cycles between −40 °C and 125 °C after 2500 cycles, due to the phase transformation from β-Sn to β-Sn + γ-InSn₄ or γ-InSn₄ at 125 °C. Even though such deformation, high joint strength can be maintained for 1000 heat cycles.     

The effect of solder paste composition on the reliability of SnAgCu joints

As the electronics industry is moving towards lead-free manufacturing processes, more effort has been put into the reliability study of lead-free solder materials. Various tin–silver–copper-based solders have become widely accepted alternatives for tin–lead solders. In this study, we have tested three different SnAgCu solder compositions. The first consisted of a hypoeutectic 96.5Sn/3.0Ag/0.5Cu solder, the second of a eutectic 95.5Sn/3.8Ag/0.7Cu solder, and the third of a hypereutectic 95.5Sn/4.0Ag/0.5Cu solder. A eutectic SnPb solder was used as a reference. The test boards were temperature-cycled (−40 to +125 °C) until all samples failed. The results of the temperature cycling test were analyzed, and cross-section samples were made of the failed joints. Scanning electron and optical microscopy were employed to analyze the fracture behavior and microstructures of the solder joints. The reliability of lead-free solders and the effect of microstructures on joint reliability are discussed.     

An Analytical Elasto-Creep Model of Solder Joints in Leadless Chip Resistors: Part 2—Applications in Fatigue Reliability Predictions for SnPb and Lead-Free Solders

For pt. 1 see ibid., p.681-94, (2007). In Part 1, a novel two-dimensional model was presented for multi-axial thermal stresses, elastic strains, creep strains, and creep energy density at the interfaces of solder joints in leadless chip resistor (LCR) assemblies. In this paper, the model is used to characterize the creep performance of SnPb and SAC lead-free solder joints in LCRs. For both the SAC lead-free and eutectic tin-lead solder joints the predicted cyclic stresses and strains exhibit ratcheting behavior, in good agreement with finite-element predictions. The model is also employed to assess the role of ramp rate and temperature variations in accelerated thermal cycling (ATC) tests. The predictions of the present model correlate well with the experimentally measured number of cycles-to-failure using the Coffin-Manson strain-based model for the SnPb solder and energy-based life prediction model for the SAC solder joints.     

基于正交试验设计的塑封球栅阵列器件焊点工艺参数与可靠性关系研究

基于正交试验设计法对塑封球栅阵列(PBGA)器件焊点工艺参数与可靠性关系进行了研究.采用混合水平正交表L₁₈(2×3⁷)设计了18种不同工艺参数组合的PBGA测试样件,进行了546小时、最大循环周数2140周的PBGA测试样件可靠性加速热循环试验.基于试验结果进行了极差分析和方差分析;研究了PBGA测试样件寿命的威布尔分布;采用有限元分析方法对热循环加载条件下PBGA焊点内应力应变分布进行了研究.试验结果表明失效焊点裂纹出现于焊点与芯片基板的交界面上.研究结果表明:样件规格对PBGA焊点可靠性有高度显著影响,芯片配重对PBGA焊点可靠性有显著的影响,焊盘直径和钢网厚度对PBGA焊点可靠性无显著影响;最优工艺参数组合为:S2D2G2M1和S2D2G2M2.有限元分析表明在热循环加载条件下PBGA器件内应力最大区域位于焊点与芯片基板的接触面上,裂纹首先在焊点与芯片基板的接触面处产生,有限元分析结果与试验结果相吻合.     

Drop impact reliability testing for lead-free and lead-based soldered IC packages

Board-level drop impact testing is a useful way to characterize the drop durability of the different soldered assemblies onto the printed circuit board (PCB). The characterization process is critical to the lead-free (Pb-free) solders that are replacing lead-based (Pb-based) solders. In this study, drop impact solder joint reliability for plastic ball grid array (PBGA), very-thin quad flat no-lead (VQFN) and plastic quad flat pack (PQFP) packages was investigated for Pb-based (62Sn–36Pb–2Ag) and Pb-free (Sn–4Ag–0.5Cu) soldered assemblies onto different PCB surface finishes of OSP (organic solderability preservative) and ENIG (electroless nickel immersion gold). The Pb-free solder joints on ENIG finish revealed weaker drop reliability performance than the OSP finish. The formation of the brittle intermetallic compound (IMC) Cu–Ni–Sn has led to detrimental interfacial fracture of the PBGA solder joints. For both Pb-based and Pb-free solders onto OSP coated copper pad, the formation of Cu₆Sn₅ IMC resulted in different failure sites and modes. The failures migrated to the PCB copper traces and resin layers instead. The VQFN package is the most resistant to drop impact failures due to its small size and weight. The compliant leads of the PQFP are more resistant to drop failures compared to the PBGA solder joints.     

Effects of TMF heating rates on damage accumulation and resultant mechanical behavior of Sn–Ag based solder joints

Solder joint reliability depends on several service parameters such as temperature extremes encountered, dwell times at these temperatures, and the ramp-rates representing the rate at which the temperature changes are imposed. TMF of Sn–Ag based solder alloy joints of realistic dimensions were carried out with dwell of 115 min and 20 min at 150 °C and −15 °C, respectively. Different heating rates were obtained by controlling the power input during heating part of TMF cycles. Surface damage and residual mechanical strength of these solder joints were characterized after 0, 250, 500, and 1000 TMF cycles to evaluate the role of TMF heating rate on the solder joint integrity.     

Reliability of SnPb and Pb-free flip–chips under different test conditions

This paper presents the results of an experimental study of the lifetime of flip–chip solder joints on low temperature cofired ceramics (LTCC) substrates. Otherwise identical test vehicles were built with SnPb37 and SnAg4Cu0.5 solder. The mean lifetimes of the SnPb37 joints were – depending on test condition and die size – between 637 and 1465 temperature cycles. The failures occurred due to fatigue cracks in the solder. The components soldered with SnAg4Cu0.5 solder showed a significantly longer time until electrical breakdown. A partial stress relief caused by cracks in the metallization layers was identified as one reason for the long time to failure of the lead free solder joints.In the second part of the paper, a model for lifetime prediction of solder joints based on FEM simulation is derived from these results. The absence of underfill simplified the FEM simulation, because the solder is the only material with nonlinear material behavior in the test vehicle. By combining the experimental results with the computer simulation, it is possible to generate equations that permit the prediction of the lifetime of solder joints based on FEM simulations. They could be used to calculate the lifetime for similar flip–chip interconnects. The two common approaches (strain-based or energy-based) for generating such equations are compared. Both approaches were capable of describing the experimental observations.     

Solder joint reliability evaluation of chip scale package using a modified Coffin–Manson equation

Thermal cycle tests were performed for chip scale package (CSP) solder joints with Sn–37mass%Pb under several thermal cycle conditions. Under the conventional thermal cycle conditions, which heat up to approximately 100 °C, microstructure coarsening occurred and solder joints were fractured. The thermal fatigue lives followed the modified Coffin–Manson equation. The exponential factors m and n, and the activation energy Q in that equation were evaluated as 0.33, −1.9 and 15.5 kJ/mol, respectively. When the maximum temperature is room temperature and the temperature range is very narrow, the solder joint fracture occurred without microstructure coarsening, and the thermal fatigue life does not follow the modified Coffin–Manson equation.     

Study of micro-BGA solder joint reliability

A new reflow parameter, heating factor (Q_η), which is defined as the integral of the measured temperature over the dwell time above liquidus, has been proposed in this report. It can suitably represent the combined effect of both temperature and time in usual reflow process. Relationship between reliability of the micro-ball grid array (micro-BGA) package and heating factor has been discussed . The fatigue failure of micro-BGA solder joints reflowed with different heating factor in nitrogen ambient has been investigated using the bending cycle test. The fatigue lifetime of the micro-BGA assemblies firstly increases and then decreases with increasing heating factor. The greatest lifetime happens at Q_η near 500 s °C. The optimal Q_η range is between 300 and 750 s °C. In this range, the lifetime of the micro-BGA assemblies is greater than 4500 cycles. SEM micrographs reveal that cracks always initiate at the point of the acute angle where the solder joint joins the PCB pad.     

Time-independent elastic–plastic behaviour of solder materials

For a long time, constitutive modelling of solders has focused onto the elastic and creep properties. Indeed, the creep model describes the behaviour of solder joints under thermal cycling quite properly. However, in applications such as hand held electronic devices or automotive products, the pure mechanical impact like shock, bending and twisting may even matter more than sole thermo-mechanical fatigue.Therefore the time-independent behaviour of SnPb37, SnAg3.5 and SnAg4Cu0.5 has been investigated on flip chip solder joints. In the experimental tests a cyclic triangular strain wave with constant frequency but different amplitudes was used as the load function. This way the test enables to account for Bauschinger effects. The strain wave amplitudes ranged from Δ=0.25% to 4%, the strain wave frequency was fixed at f=1 Hz. The test temperature ranged from T=5 to 50 °C.The test specimen consisted of two silicon chips (3.3 × 3.3 mm²) bonded by 4 flip chip joints (one at each corner). A specially designed Micro Shear Tester has been used for the experiments with this type of specimen. In contrast to similar setups, it is actively compensated for its finite stiffness. Therefore, it is able to record force–displacement hysteresis with a resolution of better than 1 mN and 20 nm, respectively. Based on these measurements, the parameters of the constitutive equations have been evaluated by FEM analysis. This way, the complex stress state within the sample during the test has been considered precisely providing for high accuracy of the parameter extracted.As a typical application, a three point bending experiment has been simulated by FEM applying different constitutive models for the solder material. Comparing the results, it becomes clear: All the three contributions, i.e., the elastic, the creep, and the time-independent plastic material behaviour, are required in the model. Otherwise it would be incomplete and hence insufficient for assisting in the design of today's electronics packages even with respect to the most frequent load cases.     

Pb-free high temperature solders for power device packaging

Reliabilities of joints for power semiconductor devices using a Bi-based high temperature solder has been studied. The Bi-based solder whose melting point is 270 °C were prepared by mixing of the CuAlMn particles and molten Bi to overcome the brittleness of Bi. Then, joined samples using the solder were fabricated and thermal cycling tests were examined. After almost 2000 test cycles of −40/200 °C test, neither intermetallic compounds nor cracks were observed for CTE (Coefficient of Thermal Expansion) matched sample with Cu interface. On the other hand, certain amount of intermetallic compound such as Bi₃Ni was found for a sample with Ni interface. In addition, higher reliability of this solder than Sn-Cu solder was obtained after −40/250 °C test. Furthermore, an example power module structure using double high temperature solder layers was proposed.